Main Entry:

per·sist

Pronunciation:

\pər-ˈsist, -ˈzist\

Function:

intransitive verb

Etymology:

Middle French persister, from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere to take a stand, stand firm; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

Date:

1538

1: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning2obsolete : to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position3: to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (as a question or an opinion)4: to continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time

synonyms see continue

— per·sist·er noun