Suspense
/səˈspɛns/noun
A state of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome.
Did you know?The word 'suspense' is linked to the Latin 'suspendere', which evokes a sense of being in the balance, neither entirely here nor there, a state that can feel almost magical.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
suspendere
“To hang up or to weigh down, creating a sense of delay or uncertainty.”
Old French
Old French
suspens
“State of hanging; a feeling of anticipation or waiting.”
14th Century
Middle English
suspense
“A state of uncertainty or anxiety about the outcome of something.”
Modern English
English
suspense
“A heightened state of anticipation or uncertainty regarding an outcome.”
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