Dotard
Dotard
A dotard is an elderly person who is perceived to be weak-minded or senile. The term is often used in a pejorative sense to describe someone who is considered to be in a state of mental decline due to old age. The word has its origins in the Middle English term doten, which means to dote or to act foolishly.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term dotard comes from the Middle English word doten, which means to dote or to act foolishly. The suffix -ard is used to form nouns that denote persons who regularly engage in a particular activity or who are characterized by a particular quality.
Usage[edit | edit source]
The term dotard has been used historically in literature and speech to describe elderly individuals who are perceived to have lost their mental faculties. It is often used in a derogatory manner to imply that the person is no longer capable of rational thought or decision-making.
Historical Context[edit | edit source]
The use of the term dotard can be traced back to the 14th century. It has appeared in various literary works, including those of William Shakespeare. In modern times, the term gained renewed attention when it was used in a political context to describe a world leader.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
 | This linguistics article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
