I. ˈkränik, -nēk adjective
Etymology: French chronique, from Latin chronicus, from Greek chronikos of time, from chronos time + -ikos -ic
1.
a. : marked by long duration, by frequent recurrence over a long time, and often by slowly progressing seriousness : not acute
chronic indigestion
her hallucinations became chronic
b. : suffering from a disease or ailment of long duration or frequent recurrence
chronic arthritic
chronic sufferers from asthma
2.
a. : marked by long continuation or frequent recurrence : always present or encountered : long-lasting : unending ; especially : constantly vexing, weakening, or troubling
war between states and civil war within a nation — the chronic state of affairs when Hobbes lived — John Dewey
the chronic financial predicament of American colleges and universities — Nation
b. : given to steady or frequently repeated behaving or acting : given to being habitually : habitual , accustomed
the chronic amateur of causes — always eager, always profoundly convinced … never quite expert — James Gray
a chronic grumbler
a chronic joiner
3. of a pathologic process : characterized by a slow progressive course of indefinite duration — used especially of degenerative invasive diseases, some infections, psychoses, inflammations, and the carrier state
chronic heat disease
chronic arthritis
chronic tuberculosis
chronic carrier
— compare acute 5a (2)
4. slang Britain : intense , severe , disagreeable
she started howling and carrying on … something chronic — Richard Llewellyn
Synonyms: see inveterate
II. noun
( -s )
: one that suffers from a chronic disease