From: http://www.thefreedictionary.com

There is even today a subtle distinction for Word Smiths.


cease (ss)
v. ceased, ceas·ing, ceas·es
v.tr.
To put an end to; discontinue: The factory ceased production. See Synonyms at stop.
v.intr.
1. To come to an end; stop: a process that never ceases.
2. To stop performing an activity or action; desist: "fold our wings,/And cease from wanderings" Tennyson.
n.
Cessation; pause: We worked without cease to get the project finished on time.

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[Middle English cesen, from Old French cesser, from Latin cessre, to stop, frequentative of cdere, to yield; see ked- in Indo-European roots.]


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de·sist (d-sst, -zst)
intr.v. de·sist·ed, de·sist·ing, de·sists
To cease doing something; forbear. See Synonyms at stop.


[Middle English desisten, from Old French desister, from Latin dsistere : d-, de- + sistere, to bring to a standstill; see st- in Indo-European roots.]