Surcease

//səˈsiːs// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Cessation; stop, stopping; end. Respite, intermission. countable, uncountable

    "And first of all, it is more then time, there were an ende and surcease made of this immodest and deformed manner of writting latelie entertained, whereby matter of religion is handled in the stile of the stage."

  2. 2
    a stopping wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To come to an end; to desist. intransitive

    "[…] this distilled liquor drink thou off; / When presently through all thy veins shall run / A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse / Shall keep his native progress, but surcease:"

  2. 2
    To bring to an end. transitive

    "The vvaves obedient to theyr beheaſt, / Them yielded ready paſſage, and their rage ſurceaſt."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Anglo-Norman surseser, from Old French sursis, past participle of surseoir, from Latin supersedēre. Spelling later influenced by association with unrelated cease, which likely also influenced the meaning. Related to supersede.

Etymology 2

From Anglo-Norman surseser, from Old French sursis, past participle of surseoir, from Latin supersedēre. Spelling later influenced by association with unrelated cease, which likely also influenced the meaning. Related to supersede.

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