Durare

Durare is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning to endure, to last, or to persist; it can also convey the sense of prolonging or bearing through time. Its semantic range includes enduring hardships, lasting for a duration, or continuing over a period.

Etymology and cognates: Durare comes from the Latin root dur- meaning hard or lasting. It is the source of Romance-language verbs such as durar (Spanish, Portuguese), durer (French), and durare (Italian). English derivatives include durable, durability, and duration, which reflect the idea of lasting or enduring.

Grammar and principal parts: Durare is a first-conjugation verb with the standard principal parts durō, durāre, durāvī, durātum. In use, it commonly appears intransitively with meanings like “to endure” or “to last.” Its forms follow the typical pattern of a first-conjugation verb, including present durō (I endure), durās, durat, and the imperfect durābam, durābās, durābat, among others, as well as perfect durāvī and passive forms such as durābor.

Usage notes: Durare appears in classical Latin with nuances of endurance through time, persistence against adversity, or the act of lasting a specified duration. It can be used with time expressions (e.g., tempus durat, time lasts) and in phrases that describe prolonged states or experiences. For related meanings, Latin often employs cognates or compound verbs such as diuturnus (lasting long) or per-durare (to endure through).

See also: related Latin verbs for endurance (such as patior, perferre) and the noun duratio or diuturnitas for the concept of duration. English descendants include durable, duration, and endurance.