dotage
UK[ˈdəʊtɪdʒ]US[ˈdoʊtɪdʒ]
n
the period or condition of old age when a person's mental faculties are declining, often characterized by childishness or excessive fondness.
Morpheme Breakdown
dot
age
dot
to be foolish
age
state or condition
Etymology
the word 'dotage' originates from the middle english verb 'doten', which meant to be foolish or to have one's mental faculties impaired. this verb is likely of low germanic origin. the suffix '-age', borrowed from old french and ultimately latin, is used to form nouns indicating a state or condition. therefore, 'dotage' literally translates to "the state of being foolish," a meaning which evolved specifically to describe the feeble-mindedness often associated with extreme old age. the semantic journey reflects a direct link between the root concept of folly and the specific physical and mental decline of senescence.
Analysis
Structure: dot (to be foolish) + age (state or condition)
dot (from middle english doten, meaning "to be foolish or deranged", of uncertain origin, possibly from a low germanic source) + age (from old french -age, from latin -aticum, a suffix forming nouns denoting a state, condition, or result)
Examples
in his dotage, the once-great inventor spent his days telling confused stories to his grandchildren.
the novel portrays the king's dotage, where his courtiers easily manipulated him for their own gain.
she cared for her mother with great patience throughout her long dotage.