Definition of inveterate
1 : firmly established by long persistence the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
2 : confirmed in a habit : habitual an inveterate liar
inveterately
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Examples of inveterate in a Sentence
his inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
he has an inveterate tendency to tell some very tall tales
Recent Examples of inveterate from the Web
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So how to make this old warhorse gallop like the thoroughbreds that vex the inveterate gamblers in the show’s opening number?
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All scientists are inveterate tire kickers and testers of conventional wisdom.
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The latest film from the veteran British director (and inveterate leftist) Ken Loach is a human, heartbreaking character study centered on a Newcastle carpenter (Dave Johns) in his 50s who’s recovering from a heart attack.
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Celine by Peter Heller Though born in New York City, Peter Heller has turned himself into an inveterate adventurer, eco-pirate, and surfer whose life and work has been defined by the remote parts of the globe he's explored.
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Celine by Peter Heller Though born in New York City, Peter Heller has turned himself into an inveterate adventurer, eco-pirate, and surfer whose life and work has been defined by the remote parts of the globe he's explored.
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Booker is, to some, an inveterate opportunist whose reach exceeds his grasp.
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An inveterate tinkerer O'Neill, who opened a second Surf Shop in Santa Cruz in 1959, introduced a nylon jersey lining in the 1960s and produced his first full wetsuit by 1970.
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To alleviate the inherent tension of these situations, Daly elicits humor by showing the Almans and those around them as inveterate purveyors of neighborhood gossip.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inveterate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The History of inveterate
Like veteran, inveterate ultimately comes from Latin vetus, which means "old," and which led to the Latin verb inveterare ("to age"). That verb in turn gave rise eventually to the adjective inveteratus, the direct source of our adjective inveterate (in use since the 14th century). In the past, inveterate has meant "long-standing" or simply "old." For example, one 16th-century writer warned of "Those great Flyes which in the springe time of the yeare creepe out of inveterate walls." Today, inveterate most often applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence that it is practically ineradicable or unalterable.
Origin and Etymology of inveterate
Middle English, from Latin inveteratus, from past participle of inveterare to age (transitive verb), from in- + veter-, vetus old — more at wether
Synonym Discussion of inveterate
INVETERATE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of inveterate for English Language Learners
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: always or often doing something specified
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: always or often happening or existing
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about inveterate
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inveterate Spanish Central: Translation of inveterate Nglish: Translation of inveterate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of inveterate for Arabic speakers
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