Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Desist

Desist (?; 277) , intransitive verb

[Latin desistere; de- + sistere to stand, stop, from stare to stand: compare French désister. 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