inveterate
UK: ɪnˈvetərət | US: ɪnˈvetərət
adj. (of a habit, feeling, or person) long-established and unlikely to change; deeply rooted
adj. (of a person) having a particular habit or belief that is long-standing and firmly established
inveterate = in<in, into> + veter<old> + ate<adjective suffix>
- in: Latin prefix meaning "in" or "into," indicating intensification.
- veter: From Latin vetus (genitive veteris), meaning "old" or "long-standing."
- ate: Adjective-forming suffix, often indicating a state or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word inveterate traces back to Latin inveteratus (past participle of inveterare, "to age" or "to make old"). The prefix in- intensifies the root veter- (old), suggesting something so deeply ingrained that it has "aged into" permanence. Originally used in medical contexts (e.g., chronic conditions), it later broadened to describe entrenched habits or attitudes.
He was an inveterate liar, unable to speak truth even when it benefited him.
Her inveterate optimism kept her hopeful despite repeated failures.
The inveterate smoker struggled to quit even after decades.
Their inveterate rivalry dated back to childhood.
The town’s inveterate traditions resisted modernization.