prorogation

noun /pɹəʊɹəˈɡeɪʃn̩/

1. Causing something to last longer or remain in effect longer; prolongation, continuance.

   countable, uncountable

2. The action of proroguing an assembly, especially a parliament; discontinuance of meetings for a given period of time, without dissolution.

   countable, uncountable

   There were extraordinary scenes of chaos and anger in the House of Commons overnight as opposition MPs staged a protest against the suspension of parliament for five weeks – a prorogation that the Speaker of the House said represented “an act of executive fiat”.

3. The period of such a discontinuance between two sessions of a legislative body.

   countable, uncountable

4. Deferral to a later time; postponement.

   archaic, countable, uncountable

Where it comes from

From Anglo-Norman prorogation, Middle French prorogation, and their source, Latin prōrogātiō (“extension, postponement”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry prorogation (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← propylaeumprorogue →

Another random word More words starting with P