"We are told to cease and desist or we will cease to exist."
2.NounA written demand that a party stops and does not resume a certain behavior, such as copyright infringement, slander, or libel, threatening legal action if the recipient fails to do so.
"She received a cease-and-desist from his solicitors soon after the podcast."
3.NounAn order by a government agency, sanctioned by a court, that one must stop and not resume a certain (usually illegal) behavior.
"His remarks did not stop the courts from issuing the cease-and-desist order."