PERSEVERE

persevere, persist, hang in, hang on, hold on

(verb) be persistent, refuse to stop; “he persisted to call me every night”; “The child persisted and kept asking questions”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

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

To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an undertaking, task, journey, or goal, even if hindered by distraction, difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.

Synonyms

• See also persevere

Source: Wiktionary

Per`se*vere", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persevered; p. pr. & vb. n. Persevering.] Etym: [F. persévérer, L. perseverare, fr. perseverus very strict; per + severus strict, severe. See Per-, and Severe.]

Definition: To persist in any business or enterprise undertaken; to pursue steadily any project or course begun; to maintain a purpose in spite of counter influences, opposition, or discouragement; not to give or abandon what is undertaken. Thrice happy, if they know Their happiness, and persevere upright. Milton.

Syn.

– To Persevere, Continue, Persist. The idea of not laying aside is common to these words. Continue is the generic term, denoting simply to do as one has done hitherto. To persevere is to continue in a given course in spite of discouragements, etc., from a desire to obtain our end. To persist is to continue from a determination of will not to give up. Persist is frequently used in a bad sense, implying obstinacy in pursuing an unworthy aim.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition