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surcease

 - 3 dictionary results

sur⋅cease

  [sur-sees] verb, -ceased, -ceas⋅ing. noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to cease from some action; desist.
2. to come to an end.
–verb (used with object)
3. Archaic. to cease from; leave off.
–noun
4. cessation; end.
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Origin:
1400–50; sur- 1 + cease; r. late ME sursesen (v.) < MF sursis (ptp. of surseoir) < L supersessus (ptp. of supersedēre to forbear; see supersede ), equiv. to super- super- + sed(ēre) sit 1 + -tus ptp. suffix, with dt > ss
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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sur·cease   (sûr'sēs', sər-sēs')   
tr. & intr.v.   sur·ceased, sur·ceas·ing, sur·ceas·es
To bring or come to an end; stop.
n.  Cessation.

[Middle English surcesen, variant (influenced by cesen, to cease) of sursesen, from Anglo-Norman surseser, from Old French surseoir, sursis-, to refrain, from Latin supersedēre; see supersede.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

surcease 
1428, from Anglo-Fr. surseser, from O.Fr. sursis, pp. of surseoir "to refrain, delay," from L. supersedere (see supersede). The Eng. spelling with -c- was influenced by the unrelated verb cease.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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