persist (v.)

"continue steadily and firmly in some state or course of action," especially in spite of opposition or remonstrance; "persevere obstinately," 1530s, from Middle French persister (14c.), from Latin persistere "abide, continue steadfastly," from per "thoroughly" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "through") + sistere "come to stand, cause to stand still," from PIE *si-st-, reduplicated form of root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm." Related: Persisted; persisting.