[syn: chronic, inveterate]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Chronic \Chron"ic\, a. [L. chronicus, Gr. ? concerning time,
from ? time: cf. F. chronique.]
1. Relating to time; according to time.
[1913 Webster]
2. Continuing for a long time; lingering; habitual.
[1913 Webster]
Chronic disease, one which is inveterate, of long
continuance, or progresses slowly, in distinction from an
acute disease, which speedly terminates.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
chronic
adj 1: being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long
suffering; "chronic indigestion"; "a chronic shortage of
funds"; "a chronic invalid" [ant: acute]
2: of long duration; "chronic money problems" [syn: chronic,
continuing]
3: habitual; "a chronic smoker" [syn: chronic, inveterate]