adj. 1 persisting for a long time (usu. of an illness or a personal or social problem). 2 having a chronic complaint. 3 colloq. disp. habitual, inveterate (a chronic liar). 4 Brit. colloq. very bad; intense, severe. chronically adv. chronicity n.
[ F chronique f. L chronicus (in LL of disease) f. Gk khronikos f. khronos time ]