Main Entry:

per·sis·tent

Pronunciation:

\-tənt\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin persistent-, persistens, present participle of persistere

Date:

1826

1: existing for a long or longer than usual time or continuously: as a: retained beyond the usual period <a persistent leaf> b: continuing without change in function or structure <persistent gills> c: effective in the open for an appreciable time usually through slow volatilizing <mustard gas is persistent> d: degraded only slowly by the environment <persistent pesticides> e: remaining infective for a relatively long time in a vector after an initial period of incubation <persistent viruses> 2 a: continuing or inclined to persist in a course b: continuing to exist despite interference or treatment <a persistent cough> <has been in a persistent vegetative state for two years>

— per·sis·tent·ly adverb