Pause, n.
Etymology: [F., fr. L. pausa. See Pose.]
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. Shak.
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.
4 more senses
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. Locke.
6. (Mus.)
A hold. See 4th Hold, 7.
Syn. -- Stop; cessation; suspension.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Pause, v. i. [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. "Tarry, pause a day or two." Shak. Pausing while, thus to herself she mused. Milton.
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. Shak.
4. To stop in order to consider; hence, to consider; to reflect. [R.] "Take time to pause." Shak. To pause upon, to deliberate concerning. Shak.
Syn. -- To intermit; stop; stay; wait; delay; tarry; hesitate; demur.
Pause, v. t.
To cause to stop or rest; -- used reflexively. [R.] Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for pause; he lists it under cease, rest.
Where he writes about it:
Repose is more complete than rest; a pause is a momentary cessation of activity; a black-smith finds a temporary rest while the iron is heating, but he does not yield to repose; in a pause of battle a soldier rests on his arms; after the battle the victor reposes on his laurels. — from rest