This is the 9899th most frequent Portuguese word.
desistem
"Desistem" means "they give up" or "they quit" in English.
Here, 'desistem' reflects the act of giving up or quitting in the face of difficulty.
Os alunos frequentemente desistem quando enfrentam desafios difíceis.
Students often give up when facing difficult challenges.
In this sentence, 'desistem' conveys persistence, indicating what would happen if one were to renounce effort, but it is negated here.
Apesar das dificuldades, eles não desistem dos seus sonhos.
Despite difficulties, they do not give up on their dreams.
Here, 'desistem' metaphorically indicates a cessation of ongoing natural processes, such as growth.