dotage

[ doh-tij ]

noun

1. a decline of mental faculties, especially as associated with old age; senility.
2. excessive fondness; foolish affection.

dotage

/ ˈdəʊtɪdʒ /

noun

1. feebleness of mind, esp as a result of old age
2. foolish infatuation

Word History and Origins

Origin of dotage¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; dote, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of dotage¹

C14: from dote + -age

Example Sentences

Many veteran lefties have been effective with the kind of stuff Lester has shown in Florida — 86-to-90 mph fastballs and cutters on hitters’ hands, plus a big curve and a change he seems to have saved for his dotage.

From Washington Post

Being politically astute, even in her dotage, Baroness Thatcher was aware what contention that could create.

From The Daily Beast

In An Accidental Sportswriter, he revisits Talese, now in his elegant, legend-buffing dotage.

From The Daily Beast

To-morrow—a crippled veteran, and after that a pensioner drifting fast into a garrulous dotage.

From Project Gutenberg

England is no more in her dotage than America is in her nonage.

From Project Gutenberg

The old man, whose dull face seemed to indicate dotage, half raised himself at the sound of the stranger's voice.

From Project Gutenberg

But when Europe befools itself, in its dotage, with republican attire, we lads have a right to laugh.

From Project Gutenberg

On the following day he fell into a state of absolute dotage and insensibility, and never rose from his arm-chair again.

From Project Gutenberg