Main Entry:

¹cease

Pronunciation:

\ˈsēs\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

ceased; ceas·ing

Etymology:

Middle English cesen, from Anglo-French cesser, from Latin cessare to hold back, be remiss, frequentative of cedere

Date:

14th century

transitive verb: to cause to come to an end especially gradually : no longer continue <they were forced to cease operations> <cease to exist>intransitive verb1 a: to come to an end <the fighting gradually ceased> b: to bring an activity or action to an end : discontinue <they have been ordered to cease and desist>2obsolete : to become extinct : die out

synonyms see stop