surcease means cessation; stop, stopping; end. Respite, intermission. It carries an Arena rating of 1816, earned across 64 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, surcease ranks #2,254 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #2,525 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #2,646 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #3,788 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words.
surcease is pronounced /səˈsiːs/.
Why “surcease” is a great word
SURCEASE — [Noun, Verb] A cessation or end; to bring or come to an end. From Anglo-Norman surseser, from Old French sursis, past participle of surseoir ("to refrain, delay"), from Latin supersedēre ("to refrain from, desist"). The spelling and meaning were later influenced by association with the unrelated word 'cease'. Unlike "cessation," a general and neutral term for stopping, or "intermission," a temporary pause expecting resumption, surcease is a formal, literary end that promises profound relief. It is the merciful quiet after a day of relentless machinery, the slackening of a clenched fist at the moment of forgiveness, and the profound quiet that follows a long vigil by a sickbed—a name for the mercy found in an ending, however it arrives.
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.
noun
- Cessation; stop, stopping; end. Respite, intermission.
verb
- To come to an end; to desist.e.g.“[…] this distilled liquor drink thou off; / When presently through all thy veins shall run / A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse / Shall keep his native progress, but surcease:” — c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[
- To bring to an end.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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