chronic

[kron-ik]

adjective

constant; habitual; inveterate: a chronic liar.
continuing a long time or recurring frequently: a chronic state of civil war.
having long had a disease, habit, weakness, or the like: a chronic invalid.

(of a disease) having long duration (opposed to acute).

noun

Slang. cronic.

Also chron·i·cal.

Origin of chronic

1595–1605; < Latin chronicus < Greek chronikós, equivalent to chrón(os) time + -ikos -ic

Related formschron·i·cal·ly, adverbchro·nic·i·ty

[kro-nis-i-tee] /krɒˈnɪs ɪ ti/, nounnon·chron·ic, adjectivenon·chron·i·cal, adjectivenon·chron·i·cal·ly, adverbsub·chron·ic, adjectivesub·chron·i·cal, adjectivesub·chron·i·cal·ly, adverbun·chron·ic, adjectiveun·chron·i·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confusedacute chronic

Synonyms for chronic

1. confirmed, hardened.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for chronical

Historical Examples of chronical

I have oft known the acute and chronical diseases of afflicted ones relieved by prayer without any natural means.
A Christian Directory (Part 2 of 4)
Richard Baxter
A vitiated digestion I believe always terminates, if not cured, in the production of some chronical disorder.
The Works of William Cowper
William Cowper
And scarce any one chronical distemper whatever, but has some degree of this evil faithfully attending it.
Vegetable Diet: As Sanctioned by Medical Men, and by Experience in All Ages
William Andrus Alcott
It raged mostly among children and youths, and was wont to affect them with a long and, as it were, a chronical sickness.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2)
Charles Creighton
We often wish that some gallant, useful man, who is dying of a chronical disease, might yet live longer.
Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels, Vol. I (of 2)
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

British Dictionary definitions for chronical

chronic

adjective

continuing for a long time; constantly recurring
(of a disease) developing slowly, or of long durationCompare acute (def. 7)
inveterate; habituala chronic smoker
informal
1. very badthe play was chronic
2. very serioushe left her in a chronic condition

Derived Formschronically, adverbchronicity (krɒˈnɪsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for chronic

C15: from Latin chronicus relating to time, from Greek khronikos, from khronos time

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chronical

chronic

adj.

early 15c., of diseases, "lasting a long time," from Middle French chronique, from Latin chronicus, from Greek khronikos "of time, concerning time," from khronos "time" (see chrono-). Vague disapproving sense (from 17c.) is from association with diseases and later addictions.

chronical in Medicine

chronic

[krŏn′ĭk]

adj.

Of long duration. Used of a disease of slow progress and long continuance.

chronical in Science

chronic

[krŏn′ĭk]

Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases. Compare acute.