1.
If you have ~, you continue to do something even though it is difficult or other people are against it.
Skill comes only with practice, patience and ~...
= perseverance
N-UNCOUNT
2.
The ~ of something, especially something bad, is the fact of its continuing to exist for a long time.
...an expression of concern at the ~ of inflation and high interest rates.
N-UNCOUNT: usu the N of n