Definition of "inveterate"
inveterate
adjective
comparative more inveterate, superlative most inveterate
firmly established from having been around for a long time; of long standing
Quotations
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.
1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “ch. 3, Manchester Insurrection”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, book I (Proem)
(of a person) Having had a habit for a long time
Quotations
"Say no more," interrupted Henrietta: "the very mention of that inveterate gossip accounts for every thing. Do let me, my dear Mrs. Courtenaye," and she took her hand with a kindness that was irresistible, "let me warn you against allowing your happiness to be the sport of a woman like that;...
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], pages 100–101
verb
third-person singular simple present inveterates, present participle inveterating, simple past and past participle inveterated
(obsolete) To fix and settle after a long time; to entrench.
Quotations
"the vulgar conceived that now there was an end given, and a consummation to superstitious prophecies, the belief of fools, but the talk sometimes of wise men, and to an ancient tacit expectation which had by tradition been infused and inveterated into men's minds."
1622, Francis Bacon, The History of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh
"The foregoing elements of disunion are inveterated by the constituent formation of our national legislature. In the French chambers the members are all Frenchmen ; but our members of Congress are effectively Georgians, New-Yorkers, Carolinians, Pennsylvanians, &c."
1851 January, author unknown, "The Philosophy of the American Union, in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review, page 16