persist/pə'sɪst $ pər-/

v. continue to do or say sth despite difficulty or opposition

v. [I; T] 坚持不懈，执意；坚持说，坚称：[persist in (doing) sth] He persisted in asking me strange questions. 他一再问我奇怪的问题。

◇[persist + speech] “You should come,” he persisted. 他坚持说：“你要来。”

构词per (=through) +sist (=stand)

同根 assist; consist; insist; resist