entry
perservere
/ˌpɝː.sɚˈvɪr/Misspelling of persevere; continue despite difficulty
From Latin per- (through) + Latin severus (strict).
Word Ancestry
The form “perservere” is a small spelling stumble hiding a much older story: the standard word is “persevere.” Its Latin ancestor, perseverāre, joined per, “all the way through,” with severus, “strict” or “serious”—so persistence was imagined as pressing onward with stern determination. English borrowed the word through French and Middle English, but modern writers sometimes insert an extra r, perhaps because the eye expects a pattern like “reserve” or “swerve.” The typo is especially sneaky because it does not change the pronunciation much, making spell-checkers and tired students its natural enemies. Remember the Latin image: to persevere is to go all the way through the hard part, not to “ser-ververe” it with an extra r.
The Story
The form “perservere” is a small spelling stumble hiding a much older story: the standard word is “persevere.” Its Latin ancestor, perseverāre, joined per, “all the way through,” with severus, “strict” or “serious”—so persistence was imagined as pressing onward with stern determination. English borrowed the word through French and Middle English, but modern writers sometimes insert an extra r, perhaps because the eye expects a pattern like “reserve” or “swerve.” The typo is especially sneaky because it does not change the pronunciation much, making spell-checkers and tired students its natural enemies. Remember the Latin image: to persevere is to go all the way through the hard part, not to “ser-ververe” it with an extra r.
Kin & Kindred
From 'per-'·through, thoroughly, all the way
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'severus'·strict, serious, steadfast
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Wiktionary