Dotage: meaning, definitions and examples

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dotage

[ ˈdoʊtɪdʒ ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

old age

Dotage refers to a state of mental decline associated with old age, where an individual may experience diminished cognitive function and wisdom. Often, it implies a certain vulnerability in reasoning and judgment that can occur in elderly individuals.

Synonyms

decrepitude, dotardness, senility.

Examples of usage

He fell into dotage and forgot many important events.
In her dotage, she relied heavily on her caregivers.
The novel depicts a character who struggles with the effects of dotage.

Translations

Translations of the word "dotage" in other languages:

🇵🇹 senilidade

🇮🇳 बुढ़ापा

🇩🇪 Senilität

🇮🇩 usia tua

🇺🇦 старість

🇵🇱 starczość

🇯🇵 老齢

🇫🇷 gérontologie

🇪🇸 vejez

🇹🇷 yaşlılık

🇰🇷 노망

🇸🇦 الشيخوخة

🇨🇿 stáří

🇸🇰 staroba

🇨🇳 老年

🇸🇮 starost

🇮🇸 öldrun

🇰🇿 қартайғандық

🇬🇪 ძველობა

🇦🇿 yaşlılıq

🇲🇽 vejez

Etymology

The term 'dotage' has its origins in Middle English, derived from the word 'doten', which means 'to dote'. Dote itself has roots in Old English 'dōtian', which means 'to act foolishly' or 'to be stupid'. This provides insight into how the word has evolved to describe a condition often characterized by a lack of mental acuity typically seen in the elderly. Historically, the association of growing old with a decline in mental faculties has been a prevalent theme across various cultures, leading to a wide array of idioms and terms describing this state. The usage of 'dotage' in literature and dialogue reflects societal views on aging and wisdom, emphasizing the juxtaposition between the experience gained over a lifetime and the cognitive decline that can accompany old age.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,477 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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31474 shakedown
31475 undeviating
31476 vetted
31477 dotage
31478 adopter
31479 stigmatizing
31480 petered
...