Pause /(pa̤z)/

1. A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
2. Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt.

   I stand in pause where I shall first begin.

3. In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts.
4. In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation point; as, teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
5. A break or paragraph in writing.

   He writes with warmth, which usually neglects method, and those partitions and pauses which men educated in schools observe.

6. A hold. See 4th Hold, 7. (Mus.)

imp. & p. p. Paused; p. pr. & vb. n. Pausing

1. To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest.

   Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused.

2. To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses.
3. To hesitate; to hold back; to delay. [R.]

   Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.

4. To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect. [R.]

1. To cause to stop or rest; -- used reflexively. [R.]