persist
/pəˈsɪst/·퍼시스트·verb
to continue firmly in a course of action despite difficulty
LatinCEFR B2
Root
Latin 'per-' (through) + 'sistere' (to stand firm), an extension of 'stare' (to stand)
Latin persistere (to stand firm through) → French persister → English persist (16th c.)
In a word
Latin sistere = 'to stand firm'. Sister root to stat, in the same family. The sist family verbalises 'manners of standing' — persist (stand firm all the way through), insist (stand on it = press a claim), resist (stand against), consist (stand together = be composed of). The verb persist is the stat family's act of enduring through time.
Examples
The rain persisted for three days.
She persisted despite all warnings.
If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
Related
persistentpersistencepersistentlyconsistresist