prorogue

/proʊˈroʊg/

Other forms: prorogued; proroguing; prorogues

Prorogue is a technical way of saying "put off" or "delay." Usually, it describes something a government body does: when a congress or parliament prorogues, it's putting off business for a while.

Prorogue comes from the Latin word prorogare meaning "to stretch out." When you stop a meeting and decide to meet again at a later time, this "stretches out" the work being done. Remember that prorogue is close to prolong, which means pretty much the same thing, but without a break.

Definitions of prorogue

1. verb

   adjourn by royal prerogative; without dissolving the legislative body
   type of:

   adjourn, retire, withdraw

   break from a meeting or gathering
2. verb

   hold back to a later time
   synonyms: defer, hold over, postpone, put off, put over, remit, set back, shelve, table

   types:

   call

   stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather

   hold

   stop dealing with

   suspend

   render temporarily ineffective

   probate

   put a convicted person on probation by suspending his sentence

   reprieve, respite

   postpone the punishment of a convicted criminal, such as an execution

   type of:

   delay

   act later than planned, scheduled, or required