[in.sist] vb [MF or L; MF insister, fr. L insistere to stand upon, persist, fr. in- + sistere to take a stand; akin to L stare to stand--more at stand] vi (1586) 1: to be emphatic, firm, or resolute about something intended, demanded, or required "they ~ on going"
2. archaic: persist ~ vt: to maintain in a persistent or positive manner "~ed that the story was true"