persistent
/pəˈsɪstənt/
adjective
Origin
Latin
persistens — standing firm
Overview
Meaning Now
- Continuing firmly or obstinately refusing to give up or let go of a course of action.
- continuing firmly in a state of purpose or existence, especially in spite of opposition.
Literal older meaning
standing through
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
persistent
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The word entered English during the Renaissance, reflecting the Latinate preference for complex verbal structures describing endurance and constancy in thought or behavior.
Evolution
- Latin
persistere
“to stand through or continue”
- Middle French
persistant
“continuing to exist”
- Early Modern English
persistent
“enduring or obstinate”
Connections
Word parts
per-
prefix
through or thoroughly
sist-
root
to stand
-ent
suffix
forming an adjective indicating a state or quality
Related across languages
French
persistant
persistent
Spanish
persistente
persistent
Related words
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Related to persistent
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.