Crossword Dictionary
persist
persist, remain, stay - v
stay behind; "The smell stayed in the room"; "The hostility remained long after they made up"
synonyms
carry on, persevere
in a sentence
she persisted in her efforts and eventually got the job she wanted
my headache persisted for almost the entire day
She had turned him down for a date before, but he persisted and asked her again.
If you persist with this behavior, you will be punished.
etymology
"continue steadily and firmly in some state or course of action," especially in spite of opposition or remonstrance; "persevere obstinately," 1530s, from French persister (14c.), from Latin persistere "abide, continue steadfastly," from per "thoroughly" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "through") + sistere "come to stand, cause to stand still" (from PIE *si-st-, reduplicated form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm"). Related: Persisted; persisting.