I.fut. part. perstaturus, Liv. 8, 34, 4), 1, v. n., to stand firmly, continue standing.
I. Lit. (rare): “frenatis equis equites diem totum perstabant,” Liv. 44, 33 fin.: “exercitus a mane usque ad horam X. diei perstiterunt, Auct. B Afr. 61 in limine,” Tib. 1, 5, 71.—
B. Transf., to remain steadfast or constant, to last, endure: nihil est toto quod perstet in orbe: cuncta fluunt, Ov. M. 15, 177; id. H. 18, 206: “laurea flaminibus, quae toto perstitit anno, Tollitur,” id. F. 3, 137: “rabies,” Luc. 5, 210.—
II. Trop., to stand fast or firm, to hold out, continue, persevere, persist in any thing (class.; syn.: persevero, permaneo); usually constr. with in and abl.: “negant posse, et in eo perstant,” Cic. Off. 3, 9, 39: “in pravitate,” id. Ac. 2, 8, 26: “in impudentiā,” id. Rosc. Com. 9, 26: “in sententiā,” id. ib. 18, 56; Caes. B. G. 7, 26; Liv. 37, 52, 10: “in incepto,” id. 8, 33, 6 Drak. N. cr.; 8, 34, 4; “10, 13, 10: in pertinaci simulatione inopiae,” id. 38, 14, 13: “in bello,” Just. 14, 3, 5: “in iisdem dictis,” Val. Fl. 4, 143.—Impers. pass.: “ut in decreto perstaretur,” Liv. Epit. 49: “si perstaretur in bello,” Tac. A. 13, 37: “optimates in Romanā societate perstandum censebant,” Liv. 37, 9.—
(β).
Absol.: “nunc quoque mens eadem perstat mihi,” Verg. A. 5, 812: “talia perstabat memorans,” id. ib. 2, 650: “persta atque obdura,” Hor. S. 2, 5, 39: “perstitit Narcissus,” persisted in his determination, Tac. A. 11, 29.—
(γ).
With inf.: “aut pertinacissimus fueris, si perstiteris ad corpus ea, quae dixi, referre,” Cic. Fin. 2, 33, 107 Madv. ad loc. 3 (B. and K.; “al. perstiteris in eo): persto condere semen humo,” Ov. P. 1, 5, 34: “perstas non cedere terris,” Val. Fl. 7, 58; Tac. A. 4, 38, 3.