v.
Pronunciation: in- ' sist
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French insister, from Latin insistere to stand upon, persist, from in- + sistere to take a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand ― more at STAND
Date: 1586
intransitive verb
1 : to be emphatic, firm, or resolute about something intended, demanded, or required <they insist on going>
2 archaic : PERSIST
transitive verb : to maintain in a persistent or positive manner < insist ed that the story was true>