Desist
/dɪˈsɪst/noun
To stop doing something or cease an action.
Did you know?Desist comes from Latin sistere, meaning “to cause to stand,” so its ancient force is less “quit” and more “freeze in place.”
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
desistere
“to stop, cease, withdraw”
Latin
Latin
dē- + sistere
“from + to cause to stand”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*stā-
“to stand, make stand”
Middle English
English
desisten
“to cease or stop”
Modern English
English
desist
“to stop doing something or cease an action”