Veteran
/ˈvɛt.ər.ən/noun
A person who has had long experience in a particular field, especially the military.
Did you know?The root of 'veteran' ties back to the Latin 'vetus', meaning 'old', often invoking the wisdom and scars of past battles – both literal and metaphorical.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wēd-
“to know, to be wise, to have experience”
Latin
Latin
vetus
“old, experienced, aged, often implying wisdom through experience”
Latin
Latin
veteranus
“old, experienced, a term for a seasoned soldier or one who has served long”
Old French
Old French
veteran
“one who has grown old in the military service or in a particular occupation”
Middle English
Middle English
veteran
“a term borrowed from Old French, denoting a former soldier or experienced individual”
Modern English
English
veteran
“a person with long experience, particularly in military service, emphasizing the value of experience and knowledge gained through time”
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