inveterate
adjective
- long-established and unlikely to change
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/ / /ɪnˈvetəɹɪt/
adj
Etymology: The adjective is first attested in 1528, the verb in 1574; borrowed from Latin inveterātus (“of long standing, chronic”), perfect passive participle of inveterō and participial adjective (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in, into”) + veterō (“to age”), from vetus, veteris (“old”). Cognate with Italian inveterato, French invétéré. By surface analysis, in- (“not, opposite”) + veterate.
- Firmly established from having been around for a long time; of long standing.
“Near-synonyms: deep-rooted, ingrained, ineradicable, indelible, radicated, chronic, permanent”
“an inveterate disease”
- Having had a habit (usually a bad habit) for a long time.
“Near-synonyms: hardened, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool”
“an inveterate idler; an inveterate gambler; an inveterate smoker”
- Malignant; virulent; spiteful.
“A man of mild manners can form no idea of inveterate revenge or cruelty[…]”
“1765–70, Henry Brooke, The Fool of Quality; or, The History of Henry, Earl of Moreland This his lordship perused with a countenance, and scrutiny, apparently inveterate.”
verb
Etymology: The adjective is first attested in 1528, the verb in 1574; borrowed from Latin inveterātus (“of long standing, chronic”), perfect passive participle of inveterō and participial adjective (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in, into”) + veterō (“to age”), from vetus, veteris (“old”). Cognate with Italian inveterato, French invétéré. By surface analysis, in- (“not, opposite”) + veterate.
- To fix and settle after a long time; to entrench.
“"the vulgar conceived that now there was an end given, and a consummation to superstitious prophecies, the belief of fools, but the talk sometimes of wise men, and to an ancient tacit expectation which had by tradition been infused and inveterated into men's minds."”
“"none of these Princes do use to maintaine any armies together, which are annex'd and inveterated with the governments of the provinces, as were the armies of the Roman Empire. "”