relief or consolation: drugs are taken to provide surcease from intolerable psychic pain
verb
[no object] archaic
stop; cease.
Origin:
late Middle English (as a verb): from Old French sursis, past participle of Old French surseoir 'refrain, delay', from Latin supersedere(see supersede). The change in the ending was due to association with cease; the noun dates from the late 16th century
