n. [ F., fr. L. pausa. See Pose. ] 1. A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Temporary inaction or waiting; hesitation; suspence; doubt. [ 1913 Webster ]

I stand in pause where I shall first begin. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In speaking or reading aloud, a brief arrest or suspension of voice, to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A break or paragraph in writing. [ 1913 Webster ]

He writes with warmth, which usually neglects method, and those partitions and pauses which men educated in schools observe. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) A hold. See 4th Hold, 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Stop; cessation; suspension. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Paused p. pr. & vb. n. Pausing. ] [ Cf. F. pauser, L. pausare. See Pause, n., Pose. ] 1. To make a short stop; to cease for a time; to intermit speaking or acting; to stop; to wait; to rest. “Tarry, pause a day or two.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be intermitted; to cease; as, the music pauses. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To hesitate; to hold back; to delay. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect. [ R. ] “Take time to pause.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To pause upon, to deliberate concerning. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To intermit; stop; stay; wait; delay; tarry; hesitate; demur. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to stop or rest; -- used reflexively. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who pauses. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With pauses; haltingly. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]