# absist

CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/absist
Updated: 2026-06-22

## Definition

to stop doing something or to refuse to do it. It is a very old word that people do not use much today.

For teachers: to desist or cease from an action. Archaic in register; primarily found in historical legal or literary contexts.

## Examples

- He decided to absist from the debate.
- The witness was asked to absist from any further testimony until the evidence was presented.
- In the final act of the play, the protagonist chooses to absist from his royal duties, seeking a quieter life away from the court's political intrigues.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.