age
UK[eɪdʒ]US[eɪdʒ]
n
the length of time that a person or thing has existed
n
a distinct period of history or human life
n
the state of being old
v
to become older or to show signs of becoming older
v
to cause someone or something to become older or mature
Etymology
The word 'age' has a long journey from a concept of life's duration to its modern meanings. It originates from the Proto-Indo-European root 'aiw-', which conveyed the fundamental ideas of vital force and eternity. This evolved into the Latin 'aetas' and 'aevum', terms specifically denoting a lifetime or an era. Through Old French, the word entered English, gradually specializing from the broad sense of 'lifetime' to more specific applications: a measured length of existence, a historical epoch, and the later stage of life itself. The logic of its development is a narrowing from an abstract, almost timeless concept of life force to concrete, measurable periods of time associated with life and history.
Analysis
The word 'age' is a simplex word. It is derived from the Old French 'aage, eage', which itself came from the Vulgar Latin 'aetaticum', an alteration of Latin 'aetatem' (nominative 'aetas'), meaning 'period of life, age, lifetime'. The Latin root is related to 'aevum', meaning 'age, eternity', tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root 'aiw-', meaning 'vital force, life, long life, eternity'.
Examples
He left school at the age of sixteen.
We are living in the digital age.
Fine wine ages well in proper storage.