1340 [implied in: (1866) 210 Bidde god and acsi wisliche and diligentliche, þet is, ententifliche and perseuerantliche. (at perseverantly adv.)].
c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) ii. 4880 (MED) He was alwey feithful, iust, & stable, Perseueraunt, and of wil inmvtable Vp-on what þing he onys set his herte, Þat doubilnes myȝt hym nat peruerte.
c1451 J. Capgrave (1910) 120 (MED) Ther lay sche seuene days continuely perseueraunt in hir prayeris.
a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 120 (MED) Seldom is founden a trusty frende þat is perseuerant in all þe necessites of his frende.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Tabil sig. *.iv Ane constant & perseuerent lufe.
1616 J. Lane vii. 549 Not one perseverant mutinous hee spaerd.
1660 H. More ii. viii. 45 That assuredly at the last, Passive and Perseverant Vertue shall ascend her Triumphant Chariot.
1710 D. Whitby ii. ii. iv. 333 Christ's coming..was not to save the Elect, but under conditions of Repentance and perseverant Faith.
1800 tr. L.-P. Anquetil VIII. 381 It was his grand principle, that none but the stubbornly perseverant are successful.
1854 C. Patmore Betrothal xii, in I. 172 When a bold youth so swift pursues, And siege of tenderest courtesy, With hope perseverant, still renews.
1903 18 July 81/2 The..perseverant zeal with which he has prosecuted this pious work.
1966 R. Sheckley ix. 62 Be careful, but not too careful, and be perseverant, but not blindly so, and courageous, but not rash.
2002 17 June 10/3 Apparently, I was really sociable and co-operative, and averagely perseverant, reliable and leader-like, until the upper-fifth.
