The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Persist \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.
   [1913 Webster]

         If they persist in pointing their batteries against
         particular persons, no laws of war forbid the making
         reprisals.                               --Addison.
   [1913 Webster]

         Some positive, persisting fops we know,
         Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so. --Pope.
   [1913 Webster]

         That face persists.
         It floats up; it turns over in my mind.  --Mrs.
                                                  Browning.
   [1913 Webster]

   Syn: See Persevere, and Insist.
        [1913 Webster] Persistence

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

persist
    v 1: continue to exist; "These stories die hard"; "The legend of
         Elvis endures" [syn: prevail, persist, die hard,
         run, endure]
    2: be persistent, refuse to stop; "he persisted to call me every
       night"; "The child persisted and kept asking questions" [syn:
       persevere, persist, hang in, hang on, hold on]
    3: stay behind; "The smell stayed in the room"; "The hostility
       remained long after they made up" [syn: persist, remain,
       stay]