Make Your Point > Archived Issues > INVETERATE
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pronounce
INVETERATE:
Say it "in VET uh rut."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Today we're checking out the word inveterate, which means chronic, lifelong, habitual, ingrained, deep-seated, deep-rooted, inc___igible, and in_rad__able.
Could you recall those last two synonyms? Here's what they mean, more specifically. Someone inc___igible is permanently bad: so bad that nothing you do will cure them. And something in_rad__able is impossible to get rid of, even if you try to rip it out, as if by the roots.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
Our word "inveterate" comes from a Latin one that means "old, constant, or longstanding," or more literally, "having become old in."
In English, "inveterate" first meant "old, aged, longstanding," but over time the meaning changed a bit.
Today, inveterate things are habitual, longstanding, or deep-seated.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "They're inveterate smokers."
Other forms:
None are common.
The adverb is "inveterately."
And if you need a noun, you can pick between "inveterateness" and, my preference, "inveteracy."
how to use it:
"Inveterate" is a formal, semi-common word. It's a good substitute for "stubborn," "lifelong," and "longstanding" when you need a sophisticated way to describe how someone has just always been a certain way.
If you're using this word seriously, then your tone is negative: "He's an inveterate liar;" "She's an inveterate con artist."
But if you're using it lightheartedly, then your tone is neutral or positive: "He's an inveterate reader;" "She's an inveterate gardener."
examples:
"'You have not yet told me,' said Rosencrantz, in the assured tones of an inveterate bully, 'why you dared to disobey my orders?'"
— Charles Gilson, Submarine U93, 1916
"He was an inveterate optimist, and when he believed in a project, proved himself right about its success with the energy and industry he brought to it."
— Belinda Luscombe, Time, 15 July 2016
has this page helped you understand "inveterate"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "inveterate" without saying "natural-born" or "dyed-in-the-wool."
try it out:
Check out this example from the New York Times.
"Ms. Kalman is an inveterate walker: 'For me,' she said, 'walking brings out the most comfortable, the most natural part of how I think.'"
With inveterate walkers in mind as an example, talk about what kind of inveterate doer you are. Maybe you're an inveterate cook, reader, writer, songwriter, weightlifter, experimenter, challenge-seeker, pusher of boundaries, asker of questions, or talk-to-yourself-er. How does this activity help bring out your most natural self?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for this month is "Provocative Verbs."
Check out the headline below. Originally, it included some highly emotional verb, like "bushwhack," "agonize," or "soar." But I've swapped it out for an emotionless one.
Try to restore the strong feelings that the headline originally evoked by choosing your own highly emotional verb to swap back in. For example, instead of "St. Jude Keeps Billions While Many of Its Families Use Their Savings," you might come up with "St. Jude Hoards Billions While Many of Its Families Drain Their Savings," the original provocative headline from ProPublica.
Scroll all the way down to see the original headline. You might think of the same verbs as the original writers did, or yours might be even spicier.
Try this one today:
From the New York Times: "Republicans Who Disliked Biden's Stimulus Bill Are Liking the Money."
review this word:
A. FREE and GENEROUS.
B. NEW and ADAPTABLE.
C. SKILLED and EXPERT.
2.
You're most likely to follow the word "inveterate" with a word like _____.
A. "nail-biter," "rule-breaker," or "storyteller"
B. "update," "convenience," or "enhancement"
C. "designer," "technical director," or "makeup artist"
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
On vocabulary...
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
How to improve any sentence.
How to motivate our kids to write.
How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.
From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Today we're checking out the word inveterate, which means chronic, lifelong, habitual, ingrained, deep-seated, deep-rooted, inc___igible, and in_rad__able.
Our word "inveterate" comes from a Latin one that means "old, constant, or longstanding," or more literally, "having become old in."
Part of speech:
"Inveterate" is a formal, semi-common word. It's a good substitute for "stubborn," "lifelong," and "longstanding" when you need a sophisticated way to describe how someone has just always been a certain way.
"'You have not yet told me,' said Rosencrantz, in the assured tones of an inveterate bully, 'why you dared to disobey my orders?'"
Explain the meaning of "inveterate" without saying "natural-born" or "dyed-in-the-wool."
Check out this example from the New York Times.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. |