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Dotage vs Senescence - What's the difference?

dotage | senescence |

As nouns the difference between dotage and senescence

is that dotage is decline in judgment and other cognitive functions, associated with aging; senility while senescence is (biology) the state or process of ageing, especially in humans; old age.

dotage

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Decline in judgment and other cognitive functions, associated with aging; senility.
  • * 1841 , , The Old Curiosity Shop , ch. 1,
  • "More care!" said the old man. . . . There were in his face marks of deep and anxious thought which convinced me that he could not be, as I had been at first inclined to suppose, in a state of dotage or imbecility.
  • Fondness or attentiveness, especially to an excessive degree.
  • * 1598 , , Much Ado About Nothing , act 2, sc. 3,
  • CLAUDIO: And she is exceeding wise.
    DON PEDRO: In every thing but in loving Benedick. . . . I would she had bestowed this dotage on me.
  • foolish utterance; drivel
  • The sapless dotages of old Paris and Salamanca. — Milton.

    Synonyms

    * (loss of mental acuity associated with aging) second childhood

    Anagrams

    * *

    senescence

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (biology) The state or process of ageing, especially in humans; old age.
  • (cell biology) Ceasing to divide by mitosis because of shortening of telomeres or excessive DNA damage.
  • (gerontology) Old age; accumulated damage to macromolecules, cells, tissues and organs with the passage of time.
  • (botany) Fruit senescence, leading to ripening of fruit.
  • See also

    * biological immortality * senility