Desist — De*sist (?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Desisted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Desisting}.] [L. desistere; de + sistere to stand, stop, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. d[ e]sister. See {Stand}.] To cease to proceed or act; to stop; to forbear; often with from.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
desist — [di zist′, disist′] vi. [LME desisten < OFr desister < L desistere < de , from + sistere, to cause to stand < stare, to STAND] to cease (from an action); stop; abstain [desist from fighting] SYN. STOP desistance n … English World dictionary
desist — mid 15c., from M.Fr. désister (mid 14c.), from L. desistere to stand aside, leave off, cease, from de off (see DE (Cf. de )) + sistere stop, come to a stand (see ASSIST (Cf. assist)). Related: Desisted; desisting … Etymology dictionary
desist — discontinue, cease, *stop, quit Analogous words: *refrain, abstain, forbear: *relinquish, yield, abandon, resign Antonyms: persist Contrasted words: *continue: *persevere … New Dictionary of Synonyms
desist — [v] stop, refrain from abandon, abstain, avoid, break off, cease, discontinue, end, forbear, give over, give up, halt, have done with*, knock off*, leave off, not do, pause, quit, relinquish, resign, surcease, suspend, yield; concept 119 Ant.… … New thesaurus
desist — ► VERB ▪ cease; abstain. ORIGIN Latin desistere, from sistere to stop … English terms dictionary
desist — v. (formal) (D; intr.) to desist from (to desist from further litigation) * * * [dɪ zɪst] (formal) (D; intr.) to desist from (to desist from further litigation) … Combinatory dictionary
desist — UK [dɪˈzɪst] / US [dɪˈsɪst] verb [intransitive] Word forms desist : present tense I/you/we/they desist he/she/it desists present participle desisting past tense desisted past participle desisted formal to stop doing something They were requested… … English dictionary
desist — de|sist [dıˈzıst, dıˈsıst] v [i]formal [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: desister, from Latin sistere to stand, stop ] to stop doing something ▪ We hope that the military regime will desist from its acts of violence. →cease and desist at… … Dictionary of contemporary English
desist — [[t]dɪzɪ̱st[/t]] desists, desisting, desisted VERB If you desist from doing something, you stop doing it. [FORMAL] [V from ing/n] Ford never desisted from trying to persuade him to return to America... [V from ing/n] The magazine will desist from … English dictionary
