prorogation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

prorogation
    n 1: discontinuation of the meeting (of a legislative body)
         without dissolving it

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Prorogation \Pro`ro*ga"tion\, n. [L. prorogatio: cf. F.
   prorogation.]
   1. The act of counting in duration; prolongation. [Obs.]
      --South.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The act of proroguing; the ending of the session of
      Parliament, and postponing of its business, by the command
      of the sovereign. [Eng.]
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: After an adjournment all things continue as they were
         at the adjournment; whereas, after a prorogation, bill
         introduced and nut passed are as if they had never been
         begun at all. --Mozley & W.
         [1913 Webster]

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

PROROGATION. To put off to another time. It is generally applied to the 
English parliament, and means the continuance of it from one day to another; 
it differs from adjournment, which is a continuance of it from one day to 
another in the same session. 1 Bl. Com. 186. 
     2. In the civil law, prorogation signifies the time given to do a thing 
beyond the term prefixed. Dig. 2, 14, 27, 1. See Prolongation.