arch. Also 7 -ceasse, -cesse. [f. next.] The action, or an act, of bringing or coming to an end; (a) cessation, stop; esp. (a) temporary cessation, suspension or intermission. a. Const. of or genitive.
In mod. use often with a reminiscence of quot. 1605.
1586. A. Day, Engl. Secretorie, II. (1625), 25. My request is for the surcease of all this iarre.
1590. Nashe, 1st Pt. Pasquil’s Apol., A 4. Seeking with my hart a surcease of Armes.
1605. Shaks., Macb., I. vii. 4. If th’ Assassination Could trammell vp the Consequence, and catch With his surcease, Successe.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xlix. (1663), 193. By this surcease of Trade the Custom-houses … fell much in their Revenue.
1709. Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), IV. 237. Nothing but Death can make that Man desist, who sustains almost its Pangs without a Surcease of Diligence.
c. 1768. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., IV. iii. § 24. Creditors sometimes grant voluntarily a surcease of personal execution in behalf of their debtor, which is commonly called a supersedere.
1816. Scott, Antiq., xv. The crafty pony availed himself of this surcease of discipline to twitch the rein out of Davie’s hands.
1845. Poe, Raven, 10. Vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., II. vi. (1866), 254. They requested her Highness to order a general surcease of the Inquisition.
1916. J. Buchan, Hist. War, xciii. XIII. 53. It was carried on in all weathers … with no surcease of keenness.
b. Const. from.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxi. § 8. Surcease from labour is necessarie.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 349. A surcease from all state medles.
1643. Baker, Chron. (1679), 194/1. The Duke of York … commands a surcease from further hostility.
1879. Sala, Paris Herself Again, II. xviii. Private schools for boys give four days’ surcease from lessons.
c. Without construction.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Ovid’s Elegies, II. xiv. Fruites ripe will fall, let springing things increase, Life is no light price of a small surcease.
1601. in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 430. O endlesse ioy without surcease.
1712. in Maclaurin, Argts. & Decis. (1774), 50. After a long surcease, he renewed the cause.
1873. Longf., Wayside Inn, Monk of Casal-Maggiore, 137. All the while he talked without surcease.
1881. Daily Tel., 25 March, 5/4. There is no surcease in the torrent of Princes … who continue to pour into the capital.
