All 3 Uses of
desist
in
Bleak House
- …has probably as much to do with these demonstrations as any imbecile intention in the poor old woman, but on the present occasion they are so particularly lively in connexion with the Windsor arm-chair, fellow to that in which Mr. Smallweed is seated, that she only quite desists when her grandchildren have held her down in it, her lord in the meanwhile bestowing upon her, with great volubility, the endearing epithet of "a pig-headed jackdaw," repeated a surprising number of times.†
Chpt 31-33
- In case this should be so, or in case you should entertain much thought of me in what you are doing, I most earnestly entreat and beg you to desist.†
Chpt 37-39 *
- Mr. Guppy therefore desisted from taking something out of his pocket and proceeded without it.†
Chpt 64-65
Definition:
-
(desist) to not do something