[cease] vb ceased ; ceas.ing [ME cesen, fr. MF cesser, fr. L cessare to hold back, be remiss, freq. of cedere] vt (14c): to cause to come to an end esp. gradually: no longer continue ~ vi 1 a: to come to an end b: to bring an activity or action to an end: discontinue
2. obs: to become extinct: die out syn see stop
[2]cease n (14c): cessation--usu. used with without