early 15c., "duration, quality of persisting; will to persevere," from Old French perseveracion "persistence, stubbornness" (13c.) and directly, from Latin perseverationem (nominative perseveratio), noun of action from past participle stem of perseverare (see persevere). Psychological sense (1915) is from German.
Persepolis
Perseus
perseverance
perseverant
perseverate
perseveration
persevere
Persia
Persian
persiflage
persimmon