Dotardness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The condition of diminished mental faculties often resulting from advanced years is evident in this state
2. This state refers to a decline in cognitive abilities typically associated with aging and decreased mental sharpness
3. The condition characterized by a significant decline in mental clarity and intellect commonly linked to old age is referred to in this term

Etymology: "Dotardness" is simply "dotard" with the suffix "-ness" attached, a pairing that English has used to turn many nouns of quality into nouns of state. The base word "dotard" comes from "dote," an older English verb meaning to be weak-minded or to act foolishly, probably related to the idea of doting in the sense of being senile. A dotard was therefore a person whose wits had faded, and "-ness" names the condition of being in that state. The suffix does the same work in many other English words, such as "kindness" from "kind" or "blindness" from "blind," so the new word follows an ordinary pattern rather than a special history. Its meaning stays close to the original: the state of mind that a dotard shows, usually linked to old age.