English edit

Etymology edit

desist +‎ -ance

Noun edit

desistance (countable and uncountable, plural desistances)

  1. (rare) The act or state of desisting; cessation.
    • 1890, Henry James, The Tragic Muse:
      [O]n one side she was defended by the wall of the room and on the other rendered inaccessible by Miriam's mother, who clung to her with a quickly-rooted fidelity, showing no symptom of desistance.