cease

cease (sēs)

transitive verb, intransitive verb ceased, ceas′·ing

to bring or come to an end; stop; discontinue

Etymology: ME cesen < OFr cesser < L cessare, to loiter, be idle < pp. of cedere, yield: see cede

noun

a ceasing, as of some activity

Etymology: ME & OFr ces < v.

desist, terminate, discontinue; see halt 2, stop 1, 2. See syn. study at stop.

Object

trading: The company ceased trading on the stock exchange the following year.
firing: His way led straight into the woods and through the midst of the Samoans, who had but now ceased firing.
publication: The legal action that followed forced The Masses to cease publication.
employment: At the time Mr XXX ceased employment on 18 May 1998 the 1997 regulations were in force.
operation: Please note that the Virtual Hospital ceased operations in January 2006.
production: The estate's copper mine ceased production in 1807.

Modifying Another Word

forthwith: In either case, the group must forthwith cease to use the name of Quest.
thereupon: If you are prevented from traveling as a result, our responsibility for your holiday thereupon ceases.
altogether: Visibility then became very poor and firing ceased altogether.
abruptly: When I saw how deadly white her face was, I ceased abruptly.
never: Wonders never cease Wayne actually played a request for me.

Used with why or when

when: He married twice and fathered nine children, although his family life ceased when his career took off in 1919.

Infinitive complement

amaze: The power of the subconscious mind never ceases to amaze me.
exist: Small independent farmers would cease to exist in the way we know them.
operate: Due to circumstances beyond our control airlines may cease to operate on certain routes which may have an effect upon the holiday price.
apply: This ceases to apply once the document has been read to or by the Court, or referred to in open Court.
occupy: The claimant landlord sought possession against a statutory tenant on the ground that he had ceased to occupy.
hold: An advisor's co-option to Council will expire three years after their appointment or earlier if they cease to hold membership of the Society.

Preposition: in

1960s: Steamer traffic ceased in the 1960s, with the PS Embassy making a final call on 24th September 1966.

Preposition: of

dukkha: With the ceasing of ignorance there will be the ceasing of dukkha.

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