What it doesn't mean
It is an old word, in English since the mid-14th century. Cambridge said learners looked it up because it isn't a common word for students of English, and the Mars landing suddenly put it in the news.
Cambridge's editors called perseverance almost always a positive word, one that expresses admiration for people who keep going. Stubbornness usually implies refusing to change course when you should.
What it really means
Perseverance became Word of the Year because of a robot on another planet.
In February 2021 NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars, and between 18 and 24 February Cambridge Dictionary saw a surge in people looking up the word. By the end of the year it had been searched more than 243,000 times, and Cambridge named it Word of the Year for 2021. Its definition: "continued effort to do or achieve something, even when this is difficult or takes a long time".
The reason it spiked says something about who uses dictionaries. Cambridge's publishing manager, Wendalyn Nichols, pointed out that Cambridge Dictionary is the world's top website for learners of English, and that perseverance isn't a common word for students to know. When a less familiar word suddenly turns up in the news, look-ups jump.
The editors also chose it because it fitted the year. Nichols said that just as it takes perseverance to land a rover on Mars, it takes perseverance to face Covid-19, climate disasters, political instability and conflict. Cambridge's editors described it as almost always a positive word, one that expresses admiration for people who keep going in difficult situations. Cambridge had chosen quarantine the year before.
The word is old. It came into English in the mid-14th century from Old French and Latin perseverantia, "steadfastness". Behind it is perseverare, "to continue steadfastly", built from per-, "very", and severus, "serious, strict". Perseverance is, in effect, being very serious about not giving up.
Where it comes from
Latin: very, thoroughly
Latin: serious, grave, strict
From Old French perseverance and Latin perseverantia, 'steadfastness, constancy', from perseverare, 'to continue steadfastly'. In English from the mid-14th century.
- Mid-14th century
Perseverance enters English, meaning the will or ability to keep going.
- February 2021
NASA's Perseverance rover lands on Mars. Searches for the word on Cambridge Dictionary surge between 18 and 24 February.
- 2021
The word is searched more than 243,000 times on Cambridge Dictionary during the year.
- 2021
Cambridge Dictionary names perseverance its Word of the Year 2021.
In real life
- It took her four attempts to pass her driving test. Her instructor said it was perseverance, not luck.
- The rover's name was chosen for the mission, but the word suited the year it landed in.
- After a dozen rejections, the novelist's perseverance finally paid off with a two-book deal.
Questions
Q01What does perseverance mean?
Cambridge Dictionary defines it as 'continued effort to do or achieve something, even when this is difficult or takes a long time'.
Q02Why was perseverance Cambridge's Word of the Year 2021?
It was searched more than 243,000 times on Cambridge Dictionary that year, with a surge between 18 and 24 February after NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars. The editors also felt it fitted a year of disruption from Covid-19, climate disasters, political instability and conflict.
Q03Why did so many people look it up?
Cambridge Dictionary is widely used by learners of English, and its publishing manager said perseverance is not a common word for students of English to know. Look-ups of less familiar words spike when they suddenly appear in the news.
Q04What are synonyms for perseverance?
Determination, persistence, doggedness, tenacity, resolve and will.
Sources
- 'Perseverance' named Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year. The Independent.
- Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year 2021: perseverance.
- perseverance (n.): Online Etymology Dictionary.