desist

«desist» in Mova's school dictionary: To stop doing something, especially when told to: «desist… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

part of speech

verb (desist, desists, desisted, desisting)

meaning for a pupil

(formal) To stop doing something, especially when told to: «desist from doing it». tree →

sense in the lessons

A formal word used in legal letters, official warnings and the stiff exam voice. «Cease and desist» means stop completely. In stories, an officer or judge might order someone to desist. In everyday life people say «stop» or «quit it».

examples

• The judge told him to desist from shouting. tree →
• (formal) Please desist from running in the corridors. tree →
• The company received a letter telling it to cease and desist. tree →
• The guard ordered the boys to desist at once. tree →
• (formal) Pupils must desist from talking once the exam begins. tree →
• The rain finally desisted in the evening. tree →
• The Grasshopper refused to desist, and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated. tree →

note

Formal: usually «desist from + -ing». Everyday equivalent: «stop». Pronounced «di-SIST» or «di-ZIST». Do not confuse with «resist» (fight against) or «insist».

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «desist» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.