First Known Use: 1601
Dictionary
chronic
adjective chron·ic \ˈkrä-nik\
medical : continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
: happening or existing frequently or most of the time
: always or often doing something specified
Full Definition of CHRONIC
1
a : marked by long duration or frequent recurrence : not acute <chronic indigestion> <chronic experiments> b : suffering from a chronic disease <the special needs of chronic patients>
2
a : always present or encountered; especially : constantly vexing, weakening, or troubling <chronic petty warfare> b : being such habitually <a chronic grumbler>
— chronic noun
— chron·i·cal·ly \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— chro·nic·i·ty \krä-ˈni-sə-tē, krō-\ noun
See chronic defined for English-language learners
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Origin of CHRONIC
French chronique, from Greek chronikos of time, from chronos
Related to CHRONIC
- Synonyms
- bred-in-the-bone, habitual, confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, inveterate
Synonym Discussion of CHRONIC
inveterate, confirmed, chronic mean firmly established. inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable <an inveterate smoker>. confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform <a confirmed bachelor>. chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome <a chronic complainer>.
CHRONIC Defined for Kids
chronic
adjective chron·ic \ˈkrä-nik\
Definition of CHRONIC for Kids
1
: continuing for a long time or returning often <a chronic disease>
2
: happening or done frequently or by habit <a chronic complainer> <chronic tardiness>
— chron·i·cal·ly \-ni-kə-lē\ adverb
Word Root of CHRONIC
The Greek word chronos, meaning “time,” gives us the root chron. Words from the Greek chronos have something to do with time. The chronological order of events is the order in which they happened in time. Anything that is chronic lasts for a very long time. A chronicle is a telling of events in the order in which they happened in time.
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