Webster's English Dictionary

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inveterate

in.vet.er.ate \in-'vet-*-r*t, -'ve-tr*t\ aj [L inveteratus, fr. pp. of 
   inveterare to age (v.t.), fr. in-]+ veter-, vetus old - more at WETHER 1: 
   firmly established by long persistence  2: confirmed in a habit : HABITUAL  
   DEEP-ROOTED mean firmly established. INVETERATE applies to a habit, 
   attitude, feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable 
   or unalterable; CONFIRMED implies a growing stronger and firmer with time 
   so as to resist change or reform; CHRONIC suggests what is persistent or 
   endlessly recurrent and troublesome; DEEP-SEATED and DEEP-ROOTED apply to 
   qualities or attitudes so deeply embedded as to become part of the core of 
   character or of lasting endurance - in.vet.er.ate.ly av SYN syn INVETERATE, 
   CONFIRMED, CHRONIC, DEEP-SEATED,