Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - cease

 I. verb  (~d; ceasing)  Etymology: Middle English cesen, from Anglo-French cesser, from Latin cessare to hold back, be remiss, frequentative of cedere  Date: 14th century  transitive verb to cause to come to an end especially gradually ; no longer continue they were forced to ~ operations ~ to exist  intransitive verb  1.  a. to come to an end the fighting gradually ~d  b. to bring an activity or action to an end ; discontinue they have been ordered to ~ and desist  2. obsolete to become extinct ; die out  Synonyms: see stop  II. noun  Date: 14th century cessation — usually used with without