inveterate definition | Dictionary.com

Synonyms

deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched, ingrained, set, confirmed, habitual, avid, chronic, enduring, established, fixed

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inveterate - 6 dictionary results

in⋅vet⋅er⋅ate

[in-vet-er-it]

–adjective

1.	settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like: an inveterate gambler.

2.	firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L inveterātus (ptp. of inveterāre to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve), equiv. to in- in- ² + veter- (s. of vetus) old + -ātus -ate ¹ ; cf. veteran

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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in·vet·er·ate (ĭn-vět'ər-ĭt) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Firmly and long established; deep-rooted: inveterate preferences.
Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual: an inveterate liar. See Synonyms at chronic.

[Middle English, from Latin inveterātus, past participle of inveterārī, to grow old, endure : in-, causative pref.; see in-² + vetus, veter-, old; see wet-² in Indo-European roots.]

in·vet'er·a·cy (-ər-ə-sē), in·vet'er·ate·ness n., in·vet'er·ate·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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inveterate

1528, from L. inveteratus "of long standing, chronic," pp. of inveterare "become old in," from in- "in, into" + veterare "to make old," from vetus (gen. veteris) "old" (see veteran).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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inveterate
adjective
1.	habitual; "a chronic smoker" [syn: chronic]
adverb
1.	in a habitual and longstanding manner; "smoking chronically" [syn: chronically]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Inveterate

In*vet"er*a*cy\, n. [From Inveterate.]

1. Firm establishment by long continuance; firmness or deep-rooted obstinacy of any quality or state acquired by time; as, the inveteracy of custom, habit, or disease; -- usually in a bad sense; as, the inveteracy of prejudice or of error.

An inveteracy of evil habits that will prompt him to contract more. --A. Tucker.

2. Malignity; spitefulness; virulency.

The rancor of pamphlets, the inveteracy of epigrams, an the mortification of lampoons. --Guardian.

Inveterate

In*vet"er*ate\, a. [L. inveteratus, p. p. of inveterare to render old; pref. in- in + vetus, veteris, old. See Veteran.]

1. Old; long-established. [Obs.]

It is an inveterate and received opinion. --Bacon.

2. Firmly established by long continuance; obstinate; deep-rooted; of long standing; as, an inveterate disease; an inveterate abuse.

Heal the inveterate canker of one wound. --Shak.

3. Having habits fixed by long continuance; confirmed; habitual; as, an inveterate idler or smoker.

4. Malignant; virulent; spiteful. --H. Brooke.

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