inveterate

[ in-vet-er-it ]
/ ɪnˈvɛt ər ɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR inveterate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like: an inveterate gambler.
firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.

Origin of inveterate

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin inveterātus (past participle of inveterāre to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve), equivalent to in- in-2 + veter- (stem of vetus) old + -ātus -ate1; cf. veteran

OTHER WORDS FROM inveterate

in·vet·er·ate·ly, adverb in·vet·er·ate·ness, noun

Words nearby inveterate

investment company, investment compound, investment tax credit, investment trust, inveteracy, inveterate, inviable, invidious, invigilate, invigorant, invigorate

Words related to inveterate

incurable, hard-core, habitual, addicted, hardened, lifelong, abiding, accustomed, chronic, confirmed, continuing, customary, deep-rooted, deep-seated, dyed-in-the-wool, enduring, entrenched, fixed, inbred, incorrigible

Example sentences from the Web for inveterate

British Dictionary definitions for inveterate

inveterate
/ (ɪnˈvɛtərɪt) /

adjective

long established, esp so as to be deep-rooted or ingrained an inveterate feeling of hostility
(prenominal) settled or confirmed in a habit or practice, esp a bad one; hardened an inveterate smoker
obsolete full of hatred; hostile

Derived forms of inveterate

inveteracy or inveterateness, noun inveterately, adverb

Word Origin for inveterate

C16: from Latin inveterātus of long standing, from inveterāre to make old, from in- ² + vetus old

Medical definitions for inveterate

inveterate
[ ĭn-vĕt′ər-ĭt ]

adj.

Firmly and long established; deep-rooted.
Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual.

Other words from inveterate

in•vet′er•a•cy (-ər-ə-sē) n.