perdure

verb

per·​dure (ˌ)pər-ˈdu̇r How to pronounce perdure (audio)
-ˈdyu̇r
perdured; perduring

intransitive verb

: to continue to exist : last entry 1

Did you know?

Perdure may be an unfamiliar word for many of our readers, but those who suspect they see hints of its ancestry in the more familiar synonym endure are correct. Perdure was borrowed into Middle English from Anglo-French and traces back to the Latin verb perdurare, meaning "to continue." Perdurare, in turn, was formed by combining the intensifying prefix per- with the verb durare, meaning "to last." Durare is also an ancestor of the English words enduredurable, indurate, and during, among others.

Examples of perdure in a Sentence

in so many ways, the influence and legacy of the Roman empire perdures to this very day

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pardurer, Latin perdurare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perdure was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near perdure

Cite this Entry

“Perdure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perdure. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!