Etymology Map
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Cease

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to come or bring to an end

Where does the word "cease" come from? It comes from Latin cessare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
cessare
Latin · ancient
"to delay, stop"
a frequentative of 'cedere', to yield
2
Stage 2 of 3
cesser
Old French · medieval
"to stop"
the same verb later gave 'cessation', a formal halt
3
Stage 3 of 3
cease
English · 1300s
"to stop"
'ceasefire' dates from the 1850s; 'incessant', never stopping, shares the root
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Read the full story

Cease’s story begins in Latin: cessare meant “to delay, stop.” A frequentative of 'cedere', to yield. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cesser. The same verb later gave 'cessation', a formal halt. It reached English by 1300s as cease. 'ceasefire' dates from the 1850s; 'incessant', never stopping, shares the root. Today, cease means to come or bring to an end.