Where does “persevere” come from?
Persevere comes from Old French perseverer, from Latin perseverare, formed from Latin perseverus combining per- meaning "through" with a root related to Proto-Indo-European seǵʰ- meaning "to hold" or "to have."
persevere (English): To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an...
Definitions
- To persist steadfastly in pursuit of an...
Ancestry of “persevere”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | perseverer | — |
| 2 | Latin | persevero | I abide by; I adhere to; I continue steadfastly:... |
| 3 | Latin | perseverus | very strict or earnest |
| 4 | Latin | Sevērus | severe, serious, strict, stern, stringent, austere, harsh, grave (in demeanor) |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | seɣwēros | severe |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | seǵʰwr̥ | overpowering |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | seǵʰ- | to hold; to overpower |