Stopped temporarily in speech or action; took a brief break or interval before continuing. Indicates a deliberate or involuntary interruption in ongoing activity.
From Latin pausa via Old French pause, ultimately from Greek pausis meaning 'stopping, ceasing.' The concept has remained remarkably consistent across languages, always indicating a temporary cessation.
Strategic pausing is one of the most powerful tools in public speaking—it creates emphasis, allows ideas to sink in, and gives speakers time to think. Musicians know that the silence between notes is just as important as the notes themselves.
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