/ dɪˈzɪst; NAmE ; dɪˈsɪst/ verb
[ v ] desist (from sth / from doing sth) ( formal ) to stop doing sth :
They agreed to desist from the bombing campaign.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French desister , from Latin desistere , from de- down from + sistere to stop (reduplication of stare to stand).