dote

[doht]

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verb (used without object), dot·ed, dot·ing. Also doat.

to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually (usually followed by on or upon): They dote on their youngest daughter.

to show a decline of mental faculties, especially associated with old age.

noun

decay of wood.

Origin of dote

1175–1225; Middle English doten to behave foolishly, become feeble-minded; cognate with Middle Dutch doten.

Related formsdot·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for doter

adulator, lackey, minion, groupie, fan, flatterer, flunky, hanger-on, doormat, bootlicker, backscratcher, ass-kisser, doter, apple-polisher, kiss-ass, yes-man

Examples from the Web for doter

Historical Examples of doter

There are five varieties of them, the largest of which is the hood seal and the smallest the doter or harbour seal.
Ungava Bob
Dillon Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for doter

dote

now rarely doat

verb (intr)

(foll by on or upon) to love to an excessive or foolish degree

to be foolish or weak-minded, esp as a result of old age

Derived Formsdoter or now rarely doater, noun

Word Origin for dote

C13: related to Middle Dutch doten to be silly, Norwegian dudra to shake

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for doter

dote

c.1200, "to be feeble-minded from age," from Middle Low German doten "be foolish," of unknown origin. Meaning "to be infatuated" is from late 15c. Related: Doted; dotes; doting.