— inveterately , adv. — inveterateness , n.
/in vet"euhr it/ , adj.
1. settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like: an inveterate gambler.
2. firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.
[ 1375-1425; late ME inveteratus (ptp. of inveterare to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve), equiv. to in- IN- 2 + veter- (s. of vetus ) old + -atus -ATE 1 ; cf. VETERAN ]
Syn. 1. hardened, constant, habitual. 2. set, fixed, rooted.