inveterate
long-established and hard to change, especially a habit
Root
- veter / vetus: old, long-established, or seasoned
Other words with the veter / vetus root
- veteran: experienced person; former member of the armed forces
Veter gives old or long-established. An inveterate habit has grown old roots.
He was an inveterate note-taker; even casual conversations filled a page.
Inveterate is a hard word with a simple image: time has made the habit tough. An inveterate liar, reader, gambler, or optimist has been that way so long the pattern feels rooted in the person.