veteran
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)veterans
- a serviceman who has seen considerable active service“the veterans laughed at the new recruits”Synonyms: veteran soldierType of military personnel
- a person who has served in the armed forcesSynonyms: vetType of military personnelKinds ex-serviceman, Legionnaire, ex-servicewomanMember of American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars
- an experienced person who has been through many battles; someone who has given long serviceSynonyms: old-timeroldtimerold handwarhorseold stagerstagerType of expert
Adjective (1)
- rendered competent through trial and experience“a seasoned traveler”“veteran steadiness”“a veteran officer”Synonyms: seasonedOpposite inexperiencedSimilar experienced, experient
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun old soldier
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. veteranus, from vetus, veteris, old; akin to Gr. ἔτος year, Skr. vatsara. See Wether.
Long exercised in anything, especially in military life and the duties of a soldier; long practiced or experienced; as, a veteran officer or soldier; veteran skill.
The insinuating eloquence and delicate flattery of veteran diplomatists and courtiers.— Thomas Babington Macaulay
Origin: L. veteranus (sc. miles): cf. F. vétéran.
One who has been long exercised in any service or art, particularly in war; one who has had much experience, or has grown old or decrepit in service.
Ensigns that pierced the foe's remotest lines, The hardy veteran with tears resigns.— Joseph Addison
☞ In the United States, during the civil war, soldiers who had served through one term of enlistment and had reenlisted were specifically designated veterans.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54