[in.vet.er.ate] adj [ME, fr. L inveteratus, fr. pp. of inveterare to age (v.t.), fr. in- + veter-, vetus old--more at wether] (14c) 1: firmly established by long persistence "the ~ tendency to overlook the obvious"
2: confirmed in a habit: habitual "an ~ liar" -- in.vet.er.ate.ly adv syn 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".