prorogation

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəʊɹəˈɡeɪʃn̩/

Noun

prorogation (countable and uncountable, plural prorogations)

1. Causing something to last longer or remain in effect longer; prolongation, continuance. [from 15th c.]
2. (politics) The action of proroguing an assembly, especially a parliament; discontinuance of meetings for a given period of time, without dissolution. [from 15th c.]
   • 2019 September 10, Kate Lyons, “Brexit: chants of 'shame' as suspension of parliament descends into chaos”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     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. (politics) The period of such a discontinuance between two sessions of a legislative body. [from 16th c.]
4. (now rare) Deferral to a later time; postponement. [from 15th c.]

Usage notes

When a legislature or parliament is prorogued, it is still constituted (that is, all members remain as members and a general election is not necessary), but all orders of the body (bills, motions, etc.) are expunged.

Synonyms

• (deferral to a later time): cunctation, hold-up; see also Thesaurus:delay

Related terms

• prorogue

See also

• suspension

Further reading

• prorogation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

French

Etymology

From Latin prōrogātiōnem.

Pronunciation

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

prorogation f (plural prorogations)

1. (politics) prorogation

Related terms

• proroger
• prorogé

Further reading

• “prorogation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.