adj.
Pronunciation: in- ' ve-t( ə -)r ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin inveteratus, from past participle of inveterare to age (v.t.), from in- + veter-, vetus old ― more at WETHER
Date: 14th century
1 : firmly established by long persistence <the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious>
2 : confirmed in a habit : HABITUAL <an inveterate liar>
– in · vet · er · ate · ly adverb
synonyms INVETERATE , CONFIRMED , CHRONIC mean firmly established. INVETERATE applies to a habit, attitude or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable <an inveterate smoker>. CONFIRMED implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform <a confirmed bachelor>. CHRONIC suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome <a chronic complainer>.