inveteracy

[ in-vet-er-uh-see ]

noun

1. the quality or state of being inveterate or deeply ingrained:

   the inveteracy of people's prejudices.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inveteracy¹

First recorded in 1710–20; inveter(ate) + -acy

Example Sentences

In 1878, a commentator in the newspaper Isafold called turf houses a “national vice, a ruinous inveteracy and senseless adherence to ancient customs.”

From Slate

And in addition to the extreme inveteracy of the appetite which it was desired to eradicate, it should be remembered that a somewhat luxurious and indulgent life, even when that indulgence is not itself distinctly evil, even when it has a tendency to mollify the character, has naturally the effect of strengthening the animal passions, and is therefore directly opposed to the ascetic ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

Leigh Hunt is puzzled to reconcile the shyness of my pretensions with the inveteracy and sturdiness of my principles.

From Project Gutenberg

These diseases are the more fearful, since they rarely yield to physical aid, and it is seldom that moral influence is sufficiently persuasive to combat their inveteracy.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Forbes concludes the twelfth chapter with the following observation: "The same antiquity, and also the inveteracy of old customs to persist, is strikingly shown by the fact that in some parts of the canton of Tessino, where the common language of the people is Italian, the night watch-call is still in old German."

From Project Gutenberg