Standard Lemma guide

surcease

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /səˈsiːs/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːˌsiːs/
  • General-American: /ˈsɝˌsis/
  • General-American: /səɹˈsis/
  • rhymes with -iːs
  • CMU ARPABET: S ER2 S IY1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Cessation; stop, stopping; end. Respite, intermission.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To come to an end; to desist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • 1899, Zénaïde A. Ragozin, Frithjof, The Viking of Norway in Frithjof, The Viking of Norway and Roland, The Paladin of France, Tales of the Heroic Ages, New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Chapter 9, p. 67, And instantly the storm surceases, the heavens clear, the sun comes forth in splendour, as a king entering the audience-hall, and sheds the glory of his presence over ship and sea and land.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To bring to an end.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a stopping

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a cessation of the thunder

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cessation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stop, halt

Narrower terms: legal separation, separation

History

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman surseser, from Old French sursis, past participle of surseoir, from Latin supersedēre. Spelling later influenced by association with unrelated cease, which likely also influenced the meaning. Related to supersede.