Main Entry: per·se·vere

Pronunciation: \ˌpər-sə-ˈvir\

Function: intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s): per·se·vered; per·se·ver·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French parseverer, from Latin perseverare, from per- through + severus severe

Date: 14th century

: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement

— per·se·ver·ing·ly adverb