inveterate
/ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/ · adj
Meaning
- Firmly established from having been around for a long time; of long standing.
- Having had a habit (usually a bad habit) for a long time.
- Malignant; virulent; spiteful.
- To fix and settle after a long time; to entrench.
Etymology / origin
The adjective is first attested in 1528, the verb in 1574; borrowed from Latin inveterātus (“of long standing, chronic”), perfect passive participle of inveterō and participial adjective (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from in- (“in, into”) + veterō (“to age”), from vetus, veteris (“old”). Cognate with Italian inveterato, French invétéré. By surface analysis, in- (“not, opposite”) + veterate.
- invétéré(French)→
- inveterato(Italian)→
- inveterātus(la)→
- inveterate (English)
- Relations: bor, cog, cog
Related words
Sources
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