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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Desistance

Desistance \De*sist"ance\, n. [Cf. F. desistance.] The act or state of desisting; cessation. [R.]
--Boyle.

If fatigue of body or brain were in every case followed by desistance . . . then would the system be but seldom out of working order.
--H. Spencer.

Wiktionary
desistance

n. (context rare English) The act or state of desisting; cessation.

Usage examples of "desistance".

They have not yet become men, those terrible ones: may they preach desistance from life, and pass away themselves!