Persisting

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To steadfastly continue in an endeavor despite hardships or interruptions
2. Continuing in a firm or determined way without giving up ; lasting or enduring over a period despite challenges
3. Not ceasing or yielding in action or effort ; surviving or continuing to exist through adverse conditions

Etymology: "Persisting" is the present participle of "persist", which came into English from Middle French "persister", itself taken from Latin "persistere". The Latin verb is built from "per-", meaning "through" or "thoroughly", and "sistere", "to stand". Put together, the root image is of standing firm right through something, which is why the sense of continuing despite obstacles grew so naturally from it. The same "sistere" lies behind a family of English words that mostly stayed rooted in the idea of standing or stopping. "Assist" and "consist" come from it, as do "resist" and "insist", each showing a different way of planting oneself against or into something. "Persist" simply takes the standing-firm idea and points it forward, toward endurance over time.

Synonyms: continuing, enduring, lasting, remaining, surviving

Antonyms: ceasing, discontinuing, quitting, stopping, yielding