persist-v; 2 Senses

Sense Number 1: continue to exist; endure

Examples:
The stories of alien abduction persist despite a decided lack of evidence.
The smell persisted long after we had removed curtains.
Violence persists in Gaza.

Mappings:
VerbNet: exist-47.1-1
FrameNet: Process_continue
PropBank: persist.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 3

Sense Number 2: continue doing something with no intention of stopping

Examples:
She persisted to call me every night.
He persists in promoting lies about immigrant leprosy cases.
You must persist if you ever want to become a published writer!

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: persist.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
persist_in 1