1630s, "state of being undecided or in continuance," from pendent + abstract noun suffix -cy. The more literal sense of "state of being suspended" (1770) is rare. Related: Pendence (1620s).
pence
penchant
pencil
pend
pendant
pendency
pendent
pendentive
pending
pendragon
pen-driver
)window.location='https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=byronic106@yahoo.com&lc=US&item_name=Donation+to +Help+Keep+Etymonline+Free+and+Open&no_note=0&cn=&curency_code=USD&bn=PP-DonationsBF:btn_donateCC_LG.gif:NonHosted'){kind=link}