surceasing, vbl. n. arch.
(sɜːˈsiːsɪŋ)
[f. surcease v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb surcease.
1. The action of leaving off or desisting from some proceeding.
† In quot. c 1435, ceasing to occupy a position, resignation.
| c 1435 in Kingsford Chron. Lond. (1905) 20 A copye to be delyuered to hym off his Resignyng and Surcesyng. 1473 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 65/2 So that..there be a perpetuall sursesyng for and of any ferther execution of any such Sentence. 1579 J. Northbrooke Dicing (1843) 38 Sleep is a surceasing of all the sences from trauel. 1579 Fenton Guicciard. (1618) 357 That between the Pope and Alphonso d'Este, there should be a surceassing of armes at the least for sixe moneths. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. xiv. §3 His surceasing to speake to the world since the publishing of the Gospell. 1600 Surflet Country Farm vii. lxvi. 897 The birde..growing melancholike, as by surceasing and abstaining to sing. 1818 Colebrooke Obligations 40 Forbearance of a suit for a specific..time, or surceasing of a suit. |
† 2. The action of putting a stop to something.
| 1553 Brende Q. Curtius x. 223 It was agreed..that Embassadours shuld be sent..for the surcessing of all strife. 1579 Spenser Let. Harvey Poet. Wks. (1912) 635/2 They haue proclaimed..a generall surceasing and silence of balde Rymers. |
† 3. The action of putting off or deferring. Obs.
| 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 389 They..wil..maruel at this long delay and surceasing. |
So surˈceasing ppl. a. (in quot., gradually ceasing, abating, diminishing).
| 1881 R. Buchanan God & Man II. 250 The seas came along with slowly surceasing force. |