Avstille

Avstille is a Norwegian verb meaning to stop, suspend, or quiet something, depending on context. It is commonly used for turning off equipment, halting a process, or silencing a notification or discussion. The term can denote temporary or permanent cessation, with the implication that operation may resume later.

Etymology and usage notes: Avstille is formed from the prefix av- indicating removal or reversal, and stille meaning quiet or still. The word is used across different domains, from technical to social contexts. In mechanical or industrial settings, avstille describes deactivating a device or stopping production, for example, å avstille en motor (to stop a motor) or å avstille produksjonen (to suspend production). In administrative or procedural contexts, it can refer to suspending activities or measures. In communicative contexts, avstille can mean to silence or mute an alarm, notification, or speech, for instance å avstille et varsel (to mute a alert) or å avstille talen midlertidig (to pause a speech).

Forms and nuance: The sense of avstille emphasizes deliberate cessation with the possibility of later resumption. It is often contrasted with synonyms like stanse (to halt), slå av (to switch off), or deaktivere (to deactivate), where modality and scope differ. Common inflected forms include avstilte (past) and avstilt (past participle).

See also: stanse, slå av, deaktivere, dempe. In English, avstille is typically translated as suspend, shut down, or silence, depending on context.