The process of ending or stopping something; a pause or discontinuation of an activity or state.
From Latin 'cessatio' meaning 'a delaying, ceasing,' derived from 'cessare' meaning 'to cease, give over, leave off.' The word entered English in the 14th century through Old French, maintaining its sense of stopping or ending.
In medical contexts, 'smoking cessation' has become such a common phrase that many people know the word primarily in this context, even though it applies to stopping any activity. The formal, Latinate sound of 'cessation' makes it particularly popular in legal and medical documents where 'stopping' might sound too casual.
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