n. 25B6; verb
hostilities had ceased : COME TO AN END, come to a halt, end, halt, stop, conclude, terminate, finish, draw to a close, be over.
they ceased all military activity : BRING TO AN END, bring to a halt, end, halt, stop, conclude, terminate, finish, wind up, discontinue, suspend, break off; informal leave off.
start, continue.
25A0; without cease CONTINUOUSLY, incessantly, unendingly, unremittingly, without a pause/break, on and on.