Questions that give me a pain

An elderly woman called the library this morning to ask how to spell the word "percip" and what it meant. Since I had no idea what the hell she was talking about, I asked for some context.

"You know, like if the pain percips," she told me.

Good lord. Time for a new hearing aid? I suggested the word "persist," thinking she'd be embarrassed when the real word dawned on her. But no. I had to spell and define that one as well.