Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

inveterate

/ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.34 in modern English

Syllables: in-vet-er-ate
IPA: /ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/

13

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Firmly established from having been around for a long time; of long standing.

adj

Having had a habit (usually a bad habit) for a long time.

adj

Malignant; virulent; spiteful.

verb

To fix and settle after a long time; to entrench.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"Near-synonyms: deep-rooted, ingrained, ineradicable, indelible, radicated, chronic, permanent"
"an inveterate disease"
"an inveterate habit"
"a Heaven's radiance of justice, prophetic, clearly of Heaven, discernible behind all these confused worldwide entanglements, of Landlord interests, Manufacturing interests, Tory-Whig interests, and who knows what other interests, expediencies, vested interests, established possessions, inveterate Dilettantisms, Midas-eared Mammonism."
"In Montpelier, where this prison stands, the inveterate prejudice against prisoners has been swept away."
"Near-synonyms: hardened, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool"

Etymology

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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/
British English: /ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more inveterate (comparative) most inveterate (superlative) inveterates (present, singular) inveterating (participle, present) inveterated (participle, past) inveterated (past)

Derived Forms

inveterateness inveteratist

Frequently Paired Words

inveteracy inveterately innate obstinate established devoted inveteration veteran

Synonyms

long-standing deep-rooted ingrained ineradicable indelible radicated chronic permanent hardened dyed-in-the-wool bred-in-the-bone deep-seated

Antonyms

transient temporary momentary fleeting impermanent shifting acute novel casual sometime occasional dilettante

Questions

How do you pronounce inveterate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/.
What does inveterate mean?: Firmly established from having been around for a long time; of long standing.
Where does inveterate come from?: 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.

How to pronounce inveterate

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Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈvɛtəɹɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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