α. late Middle English perseveraunce, 1500s perseuerance, 1500s perseueraunce, 1600s perseverance.
β. 1500s perceiueraunce, 1500s perceuerance, 1500s perceueraunce, 1500s perceyveraunce, 1600s perceiuerance.
† perceiverancen.
Obsolete.
1. The faculty, capacity or action of perceiving (esp. with the mind); perception; awareness; understanding. Cf. perceivance n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > [noun]
anyitOE
eyesightc1175
sightc1175
sentimentc1374
mindc1384
intentc1386
fantasyc1400
savoura1425
spiritsc1450
perceiverancea1500
perceiverationa1500
senses1528
perceivance1534
sense1553
kenc1560
mind-sight1587
knowledge1590
fancy1593
animadversion1596
cognition1651
awaring1674
perception1678
scan1838
apperception1848
perceivedness1871
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > [noun]
witOE
understandinga1050
intention1340
intendmentc1374
knowledgea1387
intelligencec1390
conceitc1405
intellect?a1475
perceiverancea1500
perceiverationa1500
receipta1500
intendiment1528
reach1542
apprehension1570
toucha1586
understandingnessa1628
apprehensivenessa1639
ingenuity1651
comprehensiona1662
intelligibility1661
intelligency1663
uptake1816
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > [noun] > action of perceiving
apperceivingc1386
perceiverancea1500
perceivance1534
embracement1599
apprehension1600
intuition1628
perception1762
apperception1848
external perceptiona1856
cognizing1862
perceptualization1936
a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (BL Add. 9066) (1879) 230 Foryetefull wille or flesshly delectacion..defouleth..conscience and perseveraunce..that the soule may not se god.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke xvii. 143 Lightenynge soodainlye flashynge foorthe..before ye haue any perceiueraunce that any suche thing is to come.
1599 George a Greene sig. D2v This is wondrous, being blinde of sight, His deepe perseuerance should be such to know vs.
1618 S. Latham New & 2nd Bk. Falconrie xiii. 45 Then you shall perceiue that shee will haue perceiuerance and vnderstanding by the dogs remouing and giuing way with feare vnto her.
a1627 T. Middleton et al. Widdow (1652) iii. i. 30 Had he but the perseverance Of a Cock sparrow.
2. Perceived or perceptible appearance; outward sign.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > appearance or aspect > [noun]
onseneeOE
bleea1000
shapeOE
ylikeOE
laitc1175
semblanta1225
sightc1275
fare1297
showingc1300
specea1325
parelc1330
guise1340
countenance1362
semblance?a1366
apparel1377
regardc1380
apparencec1384
imagec1384
spicec1384
overseeminga1398
kenninga1400
seemingc1400
visage1422
rinda1450
semenauntc1450
'pearance1456
outwardc1475
representation1489
favour?a1500
figurea1522
assemblant1523
prospect?1533
respect1535
visure1545
perceiverance1546
outwardshine1549
view1556
species1559
utter-shape1566
look1567
physiognomy1567
face1572
paintry1573
visor1575
mienc1586
superficies?1589
behaviour1590
aspect1594
complexion1597
confrontment1604
show1604
aira1616
beseeminga1616
formality1615
resemblancea1616
blush1620
upcomea1630
presentment1637
scheme1655
sensation1662
visibility1669
plumage1707
facies1727
remark1748
extrinsica1797
exterior1801
showance1820
the cut of one's jib1823
personnel1839
personal appearance1842
what-like1853
look-see1898
outwall1933
visuality1938
prosopon1947
1546 T. Langley tr. P. Vergil Abridgem. Notable Worke ii. xv. 61 God wyllyng..to shewe the grosse wyttes of men some perceiueraunce of hymselfe.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 285 He sodainly fell into a rauing (without any perseuerance of sicknes spied in him before).
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique vi. x. 744 If..there be any perceiuerance and shewe that the budde will likewise blossome and flowre.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.a1500