Inveterate
Adjective
Definition: Firmly established or settled over a long period; deep-rooted.
Definition: Habitual or confirmed, especially in a particular bad or undesirable quality or behavior.
Synonyms: Entrenched, Ingrained, Chronic, Persistent
Antonyms: Fleeting, Temporary, Transient
- He is an inveterate smoker, having smoked for over 30 years.
- She has an inveterate fear of spiders and cannot even look at a picture of one.
- "Inv-eterate" sounds like "in-vert-rate," indicating something deeply ingrained or fixed.
- Think of the word "inVADERate" with the "vader" part resembling "inveterate," representing something that has taken over and become a part of someone or something.
Etymology:
Late Middle English (in the sense 'inveigled, captured by desire'): from Latin inveteratus 'become old, aged', from the verb inveterare, from in- 'in, into' + vetus, veter- 'old'.
Historical Usage:The term originates from Latin and has been used in English since the late Middle Ages.
Related Idioms:
"Inveterate bachelor"
Explanation:Referring to a man who has remained single and unmarried for a long time, indicating a deeply ingrained tendency to remain unmarried.
Misconceptions:
Confusing "inveterate" with "invertebrate."
Explanation:"Inveterate" refers to something deeply established or confirmed, while "invertebrate" refers to an animal lacking a backbone.