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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Persever(e, -seveir, v. Also: -seveire, -eyr; -sewer(e, -eir(e, -sewyr, -sevoir; -siveir, -syvere; -saver, -eir, -aer, -saweir; -seaveir; Passeveir. [Late ME. and e.m.E. persevere (Lydgate), beside usual ME. and e.m.E. perseyuer (c 1400), -ceauer (1568) which had the main stress on the penultimate syllable; F. persévérer (oblique stem sometimes persévèr-), L. persevērāre (oblique stem sometimes carries the stress on the antepenultimate instead of the penultimate syllable).That in Sc. the main stress was most often on the final syllable is well attested by metre and rhymes, many quoted below, from 1375 onwards. Other verse instances, however, appear to indicate the stress on the penultimate.]

1. intr. To continue steadfast or constant; to persevere or persist (in a course of action, state of mind, purpose or condition), even when to do so is difficult or reprehensible.(1) a1400 Leg. S. iii. 631.
Quhen thu seis me In hard torment persewer Lowand myn God with gladsum cher Ib. xxviii. 513.
Grace grant me here A-gayne fayndingis to persewere Ib. xxxi. 261.
Bot Ewyne … Perseveryt stalouartly c1500 Rowll Cursing 88 (M).
And thay daylie still perseveir [: freir] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxx. 7. 1528 Douglas Corr. 127.
I … sa intendis to perseveir 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. xxxvii.
We thank your lordschipe of kyndnesse bigane and prayis your lordschipe to perseuere in tym cuming 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 238.
For the commoun weill [to] persever 1567 G. Ball. 54.
To perseueir vnto the end a1578 Pitsc. I. 75/6.
Gif ȝe persewere bot ane littill space [etc.](b) 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III. 64.
Persavaer(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 256.
Bot Cypriane … but were In his foly cane perseuere c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 886 (C).
But Gregeois in thar wodnes Perseverand in thar wyckydnes 1456 Hay I. 82/9.
And man persevere in sik vertu till his end he is lufit with God 1490 Irland Mir. II. 55/27.
For the synnys … that the persoune perseuerit and deit in 1501 Acta Conc. III. 102.
Divers of thame [sc. criminals] perseveris in thare … evill dedis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 285/24.
He that luffis & perseveris thare in sall nocht faill 1551 Hamilton Cat. 172. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2535.
Thocht ȝe … Hes perseuerit still in ȝour harlatrie 1585 Reg. Privy C. IV. 2.
Uthiris wilfullie persevering in ignorance(b) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 82/12.
The … teris of Sanct Petire … causit Jhesus to perseueire in his promys Ib. II. 136/6.
And to perseueir in the argument [etc.] a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 402 (Asl.).
Perseveire [: steire, cheire, clere] a1538 Abell 6 a.
That he offerit hir to perseweir in wirginite Ib. 116 b.
Ane lard … exhortit the Inglis men to perseweire in thare defence 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 210.
Perseveyr 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1335.
The emprice … Quha perseueirit in malice and greit ire Aganis this childe 1566 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 145/2.
Perseweir c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 88 a/31.
Quhen sall … Scotland In peax … perseueir [M. -saveir; rh. appeir, maneir, cleir] 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 190.
The said Henrie perseveiris mair and mair in his dissobeydience 1627 Justiciary Cases I. 73.
The said Andro … perseveiring in his … undewtiefull behauiour(c) a1568 Bann. MS. 32 a/7.
In vicius vanite wilt thow ȝit persewyr [: inquyre](d) 1526–7 Lamont P. 36.
[That the parties] sal continew and persevoir in perfyt luv(e) a1500 Lanc. 1563.
Wharfor he thinkith no worschip to conquere Nore in the weris more to persyuere 1533 Gau 82/6.
He techit thayme … quhow thay suld persiueir and be constant in prayer(f) 1531 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 50.
And wald nocht mend the samyn bot persaverit dalie thairintill a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxii. 12.
[We] persaveris in impiete Id. Ib. xciv. 103.
That ȝe sould not persaweir In to sic folische vanite

b. With noun or adj. compl.: To continue to be (cf. 2 below). — 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 124.
He perseuerit faithfull freynd and marrow to Romanys 1546 Reg. Privy C. in Concilia Sc. I. cxlvi.
Sindrie partes of this realme … perseueris vnpuneist [etc.] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 14.
Nayne sal persevere regent in thys college langar than the space of twa coursis

c. To proceed on one's way. — 1596 Dalr. I. 37/19.
I wil begin at the west cost of Lorne … and thairfra northerlie wil perseueir vpon the sey coste

2. To continue or remain (in a place or condition). c1500 Crying of Play 130.
Quharfor in Scotland come I heire With ȝow to byde and perseveire In Edinburgh 1567 G. Ball. 33.
Thairfoir vnder the croce thow perseueir Than as a father sall God to thé appeir 1596 Dalr. I. 77/36.
Quhil now in peace thay daylie perseueirit

b. Of a non-material thing: To continue or last. 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 227/2.
The said Alhallowfare … for the space of … fivetene dais … to continew persever and indure 1531 Bell. Boece II. 305.
Ane hevy maledy quhilk perseverit with him to the end of his life c 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 308.
The entre … to … begyn at … the dayt of thir presentis and … to continew and perseveir … in all tyme cumyng 1559 Maitland Maitl. Q. vii. 14.
And this stryf and troubill perseueir [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II. 37/22.
That the self natuir of the Sone of God wes cuttit sindrie as that ane part perseuerit in God [etc.] Ib. 58/33.
That it perseueir incorrupt and vndefylit 1564 Dundee Chart. 40. 1596 Dalr. I. 82/23.
Ane impire in quhilke we this day sie the dignitie of the Inglishe name perseueiring Ib. 126/18.
A sessione [of Justice] … that … stil perseueiris 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 159.
As it [sc. our salvation] perseaveirs it depends on man's will

c. tr. To cause to continue, to preserve (cf. Perseverance n. b). 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 137.
The auld rit … of the said burgh vsit and perseuerit all tymes bigane past memor of man