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) sit1+ -tus ptp. suffix, with dt > ss
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.]