ingrained

comparative more ingrained · superlative most ingrained · alternative engrained

1. Being an element; present in the essence of a thing

   But ever since the concept of "hamartia" recurred through Aristotle's Poetics, in an attempt to describe man's ingrained iniquity, our impulse has been to identify a telling defect in those brought suddenly and dramatically low.

   2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, p. S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport)

   Synonyms: inherent

2. Fixed, established

   Synonyms: bred-in-the-bone

alternative engrained

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of ingrain