[per.sist] vi [MF persister, fr. L persistere, fr. per- + sistere to take a stand, stand firm; akin to L stare to stand--more at stand] (1538) 1: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning
2. obs: to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position
3: to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (as a question or an opinion)
4: to continue to exist esp. past a usual, expected, or normal time syn see continue -- per.sist.er n