What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Surcease vs Cease - What's the difference?

surcease | cease |

As verbs the difference between surcease and cease

is that surcease is to come to an end; to desist while cease is to stop.

As a noun surcease

is cessation; stop; end.

surcease

English

Noun

(-)
  • cessation; stop; end
  • * Longfellow
    • Not desire, but its surcease .
  • * Francis Bacon
    • It is time that there were an end and surcease made of this immodest and deformed manner of writing.
  • * 1970 , Alvin Toffler, Future Shock'', ''Bantam Books , pg. 217:
    • For the individual who wishes to live in his time, to be a part of the future, the super-industrial revolution offers no surcease from change.
  • * 1845 , Edgar Allan Poe, "(The Raven)"
    • Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
    And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
    Eagerly I wished the morrow; — vainly I had sought to borrow
    From my books surcease of sorrow — sorrow for the lost Lenore —
    For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore —
    Nameless here for evermore.

    Verb

  • To come to an end; to desist.
  • To bring to an end.
  • * Spenser
    • The waves their range surceast .
  • * Dryden
    • The nations, overawed, surceased the fight.

    cease

    English

    Verb

    (ceas)
  • (formal) To stop.
    • And with that, his twitching ceased .
  • (formal) To stop doing (something).
    • And with that, he ceased twitching.
  • (obsolete) To be wanting; to fail; to pass away.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy xv. 11
    • The poor shall never cease out of the land.