de ‧ sist /dɪˈzɪst, dɪˈsɪst/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive] formal
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: desister , from Latin sistere 'to stand, stop' ]
to stop doing something:
We hope that the military regime will desist from its acts of violence.
⇨ cease and desist at ↑ cease 1 (2)