Part 205

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Per`se*ver"ant (?), a. [L. perseverans, -antis, p. pr.: cf. F. persÈvÈrant.] Persevering. [R.] "Perseverant faith." Whitby. -- Per`se*ver"ant*ly, adv. [R.]

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

Per`se*ver"ing (?), a. Characterized by perseverance; persistent. -- Per`se*ver"ing*ly, adv.

Per"sian (?), a. [From Persia: cf. It. Persiano. Cf. Parsee, Peach, Persic.] Of or pertaining to Persia, to the Persians, or to their language.

Persian berry, the fruit of Rhamnus infectorius, a kind of buckthorn, used for dyeing yellow, and imported chiefly from Trebizond. -- Persian cat. (Zoˆl.) Same as Angora cat, under Angora. -- Persian columns (Arch.), columns of which the shaft represents a Persian slave; -- called also Persians. See Atlantes. -- Persian drill (Mech.), a drill which is turned by pushing a nut back and forth along a spirally grooved drill holder. -- Persian fire (Med.), malignant pustule. -- Persian powder. See Insect powder, under Insect. -- Persian red. See Indian red (a), under Indian. -- Persian wheel, a noria; a tympanum. See Noria.

Per"sian, n. 1. A native or inhabitant of Persia.

2. The language spoken in Persia.

3. A thin silk fabric, used formerly for linings. Beck.

4. pl. (Arch.) See Persian columns, under Persian, a.

Per"sic (?), a. [L. Persicus. Cf. Persian.] Of or relating to Persia. -- n. The Persian language.

||Per`si*ca"ri*a (?), n. [NL., from LL. persicarius a peach tree. See ||Peach.] (Bot.) See Lady's thumb.

Per"si*cot (?), n. [F. See Peach.] A cordial made of the kernels of apricots, nectarines, etc., with refined spirit.

||Per`si`flage" (?), n. [F., fr. persifler to quiz, fr. L. per + ||siffler to whistle, hiss, L. sibilare, sifilare.] Frivolous or ||bantering talk; a frivolous manner of treating any subject, whether ||serious or otherwise; light raillery. Hannah More.

||Per`si`fleur (?), n. [F.] One who indulges in persiflage; a banterer; ||a quiz. Carlyle.

Per*sim"mon (?), n. [Virginia Indian.] (Bot.) An American tree (Diospyros Virginiana) and its fruit, found from New York southward. The fruit is like a plum in appearance, but is very harsh and astringent until it has been exposed to frost, when it becomes palatable and nutritious.

Japanese persimmon, Diospyros Kaki and its red or yellow edible fruit, which outwardly resembles a tomato, but contains a few large seeds.

Per"sis (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A kind of coloring matter obtained from lichens.

Per"sism (?), n. A Persian idiom.

Per*sist" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Persisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Persisting.] [L. persistere; per + sistere to stand or be fixed, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. persister. See Per-, and Stand.] To stand firm; to be fixed and unmoved; to stay; to continue steadfastly; especially, to continue fixed in a course of conduct against opposing motives; to persevere; - - sometimes conveying an unfavorable notion, as of doggedness or obstinacy.

If they persist in pointing their batteries against particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making reprisals.

Addison.

Some positive, persisting fops we know, Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so.

Pope.

That face persists. It floats up; it turns over in my mind.