n. [ From Dote, v. i. ] 1. Feebleness or imbecility of understanding or mind, particularly in old age; the childishness of old age; senility; as, a venerable man, now in his dotage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Capable of distinguishing between the infancy and the dotage of Greek literature. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Foolish utterance; drivel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sapless dotages of old Paris and Salamanca. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Excessive fondness; weak and foolish affection. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dotage of the nation on presbytery. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. dotalis, fr. dos, dotis, dowry: cf. F. dotal. See Dot dowry. ] Pertaining to dower, or a woman's marriage portion; constituting dower, or comprised in it. Garth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A dotard. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dote, v. i. ] One whose mind is impaired by age; one in second childhood. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sickly dotard wants a wife. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Foolish; weak. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A dotard's weakness; dotage. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. dotatio, fr. L. dotare to endow, fr. dos, dotis, dower: cf. F. dotation. See Dot dowry. ] 1. The act of endowing, or bestowing a marriage portion on a woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Endowment; establishment of funds for support, as of a hospital or eleemosynary corporation. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]