The Collaborative International Dictionary
Desist \De*sist"\ (?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Desisting.] [L. desistere; de- + sistere to stand, stop, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. d['e]sister. See Stand.] To cease to proceed or act; to stop; to forbear; -- often with from.
Never desisting to do evil.
--E. Hall.
To desist from his bad practice.
--Massinger.
Desist (thou art discern'd,
And toil'st in vain).
--Milton.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of desist English)
Usage examples of "desisting".
He started to reach for it, desisting when Dun Lidjun interposed him•self.
Pickwick, who was only brought to, by the fiddles and harp desisting, and could have been stopped by no other earthly power, if the house had been on fire.
The old lady submitted to this piece of practical politeness with all the dignity which befitted so important and serious a solemnity, but the younger ladies, not being so thoroughly imbued with a superstitious veneration for the custom, or imagining that the value of a salute is very much enhanced if it cost a little trouble to obtain it, screamed and struggled, and ran into corners, and threatened and remonstrated, and did everything but leave the room, until some of the less adventurous gentlemen were on the point of desisting, when they all at once found it useless to resist any longer, and submitted to be kissed with a good grace.
He desired to get in, and kept on drumming with both fists, only desisting now and again to shout huskily, "Let me in!
As soon as the main body had passed, the gun vessels followed, desisting from their bombardment, which had been as innocent as that of the enemy.
But, soon desisting, the children were far away, hovering about the mountains.