(a) To cease in one's actions, efforts, etc.; also, of God: bring an action or a process to a stop [quot. c1400(c1378)]; (b) to stop talking, weeping, or singing, pause in speech or narration; remain silent; of sound: stop; ben stinted, of a voice: become quiet; (c) to stop moving, come to a halt; stop in a journey or procession; ben stinted; ~ aside, swerve; ~ bakward, retreat; ~ togeder, ?come together or meet in battle; (d) of actions, events, conditions, emotions, etc.: to come to an end, cease; -- also in absol. constructions [quot. a1450, 1st occurrence]; of the heart: become calm; (e) of storms, thunder: to subside; of the sea or waves: become calm; of the sun: stand still in its course at summer and winter solstice; ben stinted, of a snowstorm: abate; (f) of tears, morbid fluid: to cease to flow; of swelling or sneezing: stop.

With prep. phrases: (a) ~ of (from, o), to cease (an action, motion, etc.), desist from; stop (doing sth.); put an end to (one's sorrow, noise, etc.); also, pause in (one's words or speech); also, of a river: cease (its flow); of a star: stop (its course); (b) ~ of, to cease talking or telling about (sb. or sth., an animal); also, of a narrative: break off talking about (sb.); (c) ~ from (oute of), to forsake (truth), abandon.

(a) Of a weapon: to be stopped, stop; ~ at (in, on), of a blow, point of a weapon, etc.: hit (sth.), ?pierce; ~ to, of fear: strike at (someone's heart); (b) ~ in, of an area: to border on (another).

(a) To stand still; (b) to linger or remain in place; stay (in a place); remain (in a state); ~ stille, remain quietly; also, of a design in illumination: remain in place; (c) to be idle, be inactive; delay action; also, ?fail or hesitate in one's belief or understanding [quot. c1450(c1400)]; (d) ?to be or become halting in one's movement; (e) ppl. stintinge as adj.: ?unchanging.

(a) To cause (sb.) to cease in his action or practice, hold (sb.) back from action; also, stop the advance of (sb.), ward off [last quot.]; (b) ~ of, to make (sb.) end (a story); cause (one's pen) to pause in (one's writing); relieve (sb.) of (his trouble); ~ oute of, cause (sb.) to forsake (truth); (c) to bring (a horse, Fortune's wheel) to a stop; also [quot. ?a1475], ?cause (a body in a funeral procession) to stop, bring to a standstill; ?error for stenen v. (a); (d) to cause (light) to extinguish; end (one's life); (e) med. to staunch (blood, menstruum); relieve (a pathological condition).

(a) To cease (an action, activity, etc.), put an end to; ~ clappe (tonge), hold (one's) tongue; ~ cours (pase), stop (one's) passage or movement, pause; ~ noise, be quiet; (b) to abate (war, strife, etc.), end (dissension, opposition); (c) to put an end to (pleasure, distress, grief, sin, etc.); restrain or curb (one's joy); of God, Christ, the Virgin: end (man's sorrow, trouble, etc.); (d) ?to reduce (one's possessions).

(a) To cease (to do sth., to be, etc.); (b) to stop (doing sth.).

(a) To refrain from (destruction of war), prevent; hold off (rain); ?forego (the opportunity) [last quot.; cp. stound(e n. 4.]; (b) with inf.: to forbear (to do sth.); also, hamper or hinder (sb. in doing sth.); (c) ?to disregard (sth.); ?avoid or evade (sth.).