Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- v. To cease doing something; forbear. See Synonyms at stop.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- To stop; cease from some action or proceeding; forbear: used absolutely or with from.
- Synonyms To pause, stay, desist (from), leave (off), discontinue, give (over), break (off).
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- v. To cease to proceed or act; to stop; to forbear; -- often with
from .
WordNet 3.0
- v. choose not to consume
Etymologies
- Middle English desisten, from Old French desister, from Latin dēsistere : dē-, de- + sistere, to bring to a standstill; see stā- in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“The committee has been "ordered to cease and desist from the use of campaign literature" from Fenty's primary campaign.”
The Washington Post: Write-in supporters ordered to stop using Fenty signs
“They did not desist from the work until the Wazir ordered a number of his people to remove to this city with their families.”
“We have received a letter to desist from the creation of the Stargate: Source mod.”
“We can ourselves bear witness to the "hardness of the pavement" below, which Captain Wentworth feared would cause "too great a jar" when he urged the young lady to desist from the fatal leap.”
“God, and therefore they might as well desist from the building of the temple.”
“He appeals to them to desist from a war which can only, after greater sacrifices, terminate in a treaty of peace.”
“If you wish to preserve his life, desist from the assault, and depart in peace; and bear this message to the Countess your mistress: – the Baron Malcolm will accept no other ransom for the life and the liberty of the Earl, than her beauteous daughter, whom he now sues to become his wife.”
“Mrs. Mirvan then advanced to him, and said in French, that she was sure the Captain had not any intention to affront him, and begged he would desist from a dispute which could only be productive of mutual misunderstanding, as neither of them knew the language of the other.”
Evelina: or, The History of a Young Lady's Entrance Into the World
“Touch him if thou dare; remember the battle, how unable thou art to encounter such a force, and what is therefore likely to be the issue of the battle, and do no more, but desist from the attempt.”
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon)
“They were persuaded, however, to desist from the former design, and to agree in the latter.”
PossibleUnderscore It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them.
-Dalai Lama
Jul 28, 2009