I. ˈsēs sometimes ˈsez verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English cesen, cessen, from Old French cesser, from Latin cessare to delay, be idle, from cessus, past participle of cedere to withdraw — more at cede
transitive verb
1. : to leave off : bring to an end : discontinue , terminate
his efforts had no … chance of success, and he had made up his mind to cease them — Arnold Bennett
the resort hotel ceased to function after the fire
2. obsolete : to put a stop to : halt
he ceased her fears
cease the rioters' noise
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to come to an end : break off or taper off to a stop
these demonstrations ceased as suddenly as they had broken out — Charles Dickens
the squealing which became slower and fainter and at last ceased — Jean Stafford
b. : to give over or bring to an end an activity or action : discontinue
rock for hours before the fire without ceasing
— often used with from
the admonition that men cease from their wickedness — American Scholar
2. obsolete : to die out : become extinct
the poor will never cease out of the land — Deut 15:11 (Revised Standard Version)
Synonyms: see stop
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English ces, from Middle French ces, cesse, from cesser, v.
: cessation — usually used with without
I kept an eye upon her without cease — R.L.Stevenson