Chronic \Chron"ic\, a. [L. chronicus, Gr. ? concerning time, from ? time: cf. F. chronique.] 1. Relating to time; according to time. 2. Continuing for a long time; lingering; habitual. {Chronic disease}, one which is inveterate, of long continuance, or progresses slowly, in distinction from an acute disease, which speedly terminates.