Main Entry: de·sist

Pronunciation: \di-ˈsist, -ˈzist, dē-\

Function: intransitive verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French desister, from Latin desistere, from de- + sistere to stand, stop; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

Date: 15th century

: to cease to proceed or act

synonyms see stop

— de·sis·tance \-ˈsis-tən(t)s, -ˈzis-\ noun