20 September 2014

surcease

[sur-sees]

verb (used without object), surceased, surceasing.

1. to cease from some action; desist.
2. to come to an end.
verb (used with object), surceased, surceasing.
3. Archaic. to cease from; leave off.
noun
4. cessation; end.

Origin

late Middle English Middle French Latin
1400-1450; sur-1+ cease; replacing late Middle English sursesen (v.) < Middle French sursis (past participle of surseoir) < Latin supersessus (past participle of supersedēre to forbear; see supersede ), equivalent to super- super- + sed (ēre) sit1+ -tus past participle suffix, with dt > ss
Dictionary.com

Examples from the web for surcease
– Electricity has given so much comfort to womankind, such surcease to her life of drudgery.
– More numerous, but relatively small, is the number that seek surcease from pain when aching or ulcerated teeth are to be drawn.
– High-level meetings with creditor nations bring no surcease.

Anagram

a rescues
uses care
sea cures

Today’s aphorism

Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.

– Charlie Chaplin

On this day

20 September 2001 – U.S. President George W. Bush declares a ‘war on terror’.

20 September 2011 – the U.S. military ends its ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, allowing gay servicemen and women to serve openly.