persevere

• perservere

From Old French perseverer, from Latin perseverare (“to continue steadfastly, persist, persevere”), from perseverus (“very strict or earnest”), from per (“through, by the means of”) + severus (“strict, earnest”).

• Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

persevere (third-person singular simple present perseveres, present participle persevering, simple past and past participle persevered)

1. To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an undertaking, task, journey, or goal, even if hindered by distraction, difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.
   • 1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 3, scene 5:

     I will persevere in

     my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore

     between that and my blood.

   • 1817, Jane Austen, Persuasion, ch. 1:

     Sir Walter had sought the acquaintance, and though his overtures had not been met with any warmth, he had persevered in seeking it.

   • c. 1918, P. G. Wodehouse, "The Agonies of Writing a Musical Comedy":

     He is a trifle discouraged, but he perseveres.

• See also Thesaurus:persevere

• perseverance
• perseverant

• persevere in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• persevere in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• persevere at OneLook Dictionary Search

persevere

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of perseverar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of perseverar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of perseverar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of perseverar

• IPA^(key): /perseˈbeɾe/, [perseˈβeɾe]

persevere

1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of perseverar.
2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of perseverar.
3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of perseverar.
4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of perseverar.