First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1surcease
verb sur·cease \(ˌ)sər-ˈsēs, ˈsər-ˌ\
sur·ceasedsur·ceas·ing
Definition of SURCEASE
intransitive verb
: to desist from action; also : to come to an end : cease
transitive verb
: to put an end to : discontinue
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Origin of SURCEASE
Middle English sursesen, surcesen, from Anglo-French surceser, alteration of surseer, surseoir, from Latin supersedēre — more at supersede
Rhymes with SURCEASE
apiece, at peace, Burmese, camise, caprice, cassis, cerise, chemise, Chinese, Cochise, codpiece, coulisse, crosspiece, decease, decrease, degrease, Dumfries, earpiece, eyepiece, fieldpiece, grandniece, hairpiece, headpiece, heelpiece, increase, lend-lease, Maltese, Matisse, Maurice, mouthpiece, nosepiece, obese, one-piece, pastis, pelisse, police, re-lease, release, seapiece, set piece, shankpiece, showpiece, sidepiece, stringpiece, sublease, tailpiece, think piece, timepiece, toepiece, three-piece, two-piece, valise, wool grease, workpiece
2surcease
noun sur·cease \ˈsər-ˌsēs, (ˌ)sər-ˈ\
Definition of SURCEASE
: cessation; especially : a temporary respite or end <to borrow from my books surcease of sorrow — E. A. Poe>
See surcease defined for kids First Known Use of SURCEASE
1586
Related to SURCEASE
- Synonyms
- arrest, arrestment, cease, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, end, termination
- Antonyms
- continuance, continuation
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