Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Persistence \Per*sist"ence\, Persistency \Per*sist"en*cy\, n.
   [See {Persistent}.]
   1. The quality or state of being persistent; staying or
      continuing quality; hence, in an unfavorable sense,
      doggedness; obstinacy.

   2. The continuance of an effect after the cause which first
      gave rise to it is removed; as:
      (a) (Physics) The persistence of motion.
      (b) (Physiol.) Visual persistence, or persistence of the
          visual impression; auditory persistence, etc.

Source : WordNet®

persistence
     n 1: the property of a continuous and connected period of time
          [syn: {continuity}]
     2: persistent determination [syn: {doggedness}, {perseverance},
         {persistency}, {tenacity}, {tenaciousness}, {pertinacity}]
     3: the act of persisting or persevering; continuing or
        repeating behavior; "his perseveration continued to the
        point where it was no longer appropriate" [syn: {perseverance},
         {perseveration}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

persistence
     
        1.  A property of a programming language where
        created objects and variables continue to exist and retain
        their values between runs of the program.
     
        2.  The length of time a phosphor dot on the screen
        of a {cathode ray tube} will remain illuminated after it has
        been energised by the electron beam.  Long-persistence
        phosphors reduce flicker, but generate ghost-like images that
        linger on screen for a fraction of a second.
     
        (1994-11-09)