surcease

¹sur·cease

verb \(ˌ)sər-ˈsēs, ˈsər-ˌ\

sur·ceasedsur·ceas·ing

Definition of SURCEASE

intransitive verb

: to desist from action; also : to come to an end : cease

transitive verb

: to put an end to : discontinue

Origin of SURCEASE

Middle English sursesen, surcesen, from Anglo-French surceser, alteration of surseer, surseoir, from Latin supersedēre — more at supersede

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with SURCEASE

apiece, at peace, Burmese, camise, caprice, cassis, cerise, chemise, Chinese, Cochise, codpiece, coulisse, crosspiece, decease, decrease, degrease, Dumfries, earpiece, eyepiece, fieldpiece, grandniece, hairpiece, headpiece, heelpiece, increase, lend-lease, Maltese, Matisse, Maurice, mouthpiece, nosepiece, obese, one-piece, pastis, pelisse, police, re-lease, release, seapiece, set piece, shankpiece, showpiece, sidepiece, stringpiece, sublease, tailpiece, think piece, timepiece, toepiece, three-piece, two-piece, valise, wool grease, workpiece

²sur·cease

noun \ˈsər-ˌsēs, (ˌ)sər-ˈ\

Definition of SURCEASE

: cessation; especially : a temporary respite or end <to borrow from my books surcease of sorrow — E. A. Poe>

Examples of SURCEASE

1. <hoping the new medicine would bring surcease to his pain>

First Known Use of SURCEASE

1586

Related to SURCEASE

Synonyms

arrest, arrestment, cease, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, end, termination

Antonyms

continuance, continuation

Related Words

mop-up, phaseout; abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension

Near Antonyms

extension, persistence, prolongation