dotage

American  

[doh-tij] / ˈdoʊ tɪdʒ /

noun

1. a decline of mental faculties, especially as associated with old age; senility.

2. excessive fondness; foolish affection.

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dotage British  

/ ˈdəʊtɪdʒ /

noun

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

2. foolish infatuation

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Etymology

Origin of dotage

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

Example Sentences

It broke Lyndon Johnson, turned Barack Obama’s hair gray and accelerated Joe Biden’s decline into dotage.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rebecca Amos, one of the park's vets, says a special diet and some exercise will be key to looking after Victoria in her dotage.

From BBC

We meet Bob in his dotage; retired from life as a librarian, he stumbles into a new sense of purpose as a senior-center volunteer.

From Los Angeles Times

Charles took over the family business well past normal retirement age, while Amis was denied the illustrious dotage that great writers deserve.

From New York Times

However, she said the North wouldn’t simply dismiss his words as a “nonsensical remark from the person in his dotage.”

From Seattle Times