inveterate

American  

[in-vet-er-it] / ɪnˈvɛt ər ɪt /

adjective

1. settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like.

   an inveterate gambler.

   Synonyms:

   habitual, constant, hardened

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

   Synonyms:

   rooted, fixed, set

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inveterate British  

/ ɪnˈvɛtərɪt /

adjective

1. long established, esp so as to be deep-rooted or ingrained

   an inveterate feeling of hostility

2. (prenominal) settled or confirmed in a habit or practice, esp a bad one; hardened

   an inveterate smoker

3. obsolete full of hatred; hostile

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Other Word Forms

• inveteracy
  noun
• inveterately
  adverb
• inveterateness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of inveterate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from 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 -ate ¹; cf. veteran

Explanation

If you're an inveterate doodler, all your notebooks are covered with drawings. If you're an inveterate golf player, you probably get twitchy if you haven't been out on a course in a week. Inveterate comes from the Latin root for “old,” and it describes old habits. In Middle English the word was associated with chronic disease. Now it simply refers to something that is a signature habit with a person. If you’ve loved books ever since you were a toddler, and you regularly check out big stacks from the library, you’re an inveterate reader. And if you're an inveterate nail-biter, nothing can cure you of the habit.

Example Sentences

Inveterate newshound that he is, Bernstein has no interest in retelling an already well-known tale.

From Washington Post • Jan. 14, 2022

Inveterate seafood lovers traveling along this roughly 100-mile stretch of coastline have their own educations in store.

From New York Times • May 16, 2017

Inveterate ad libber is impish Dr. Wood, who likes to preface thoughtful discussions of taste with such of his verses as: "Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and skunks are�phew!"

From Time Magazine Archive

Inveterate explorers that they are, the beasts are usually drawn by curiosity to Chartier's specially reinforced tour vans and "tundra buggies."

From Time Magazine Archive

And has it not almost passed into a proverb, that my Lord Duke's Natural and most Inveterate Enemy is my Lord Marquis, who is his Heir?

From The Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous, Vol. 2 Who was a sailor, a soldier, a merchant, a spy, a slave among the moors... by Sala, George Augustus

Related Words

• addicted
• habitual
• hard-core
• hardened
• incurable
• lifelong