The meaning of DOTE is to exhibit mental decline of or like that of old age : be in one's dotage. How to use dote in a sentence.

DOTE definition: to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually (usually followed by on orupon ). See examples of dote used in a sentence.

dote (dəʊt) or now rarely doat vb (intr) 1. (foll by: on or upon) to love to an excessive or foolish degree 2. to be foolish or weak-minded, esp as a result of old age

If you say that someone dotes on a person or a thing, you mean that they love or care about them very much and ignore any faults they may have. He dotes on his nine-year-old son. [VERB + …

to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually (usually fol. by on or upon): They dote on their youngest daughter. to show a decline of mental faculties, esp. associated with old age.

Definition of dote verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun dote, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

No wonder dote is related to a German word that means "to be foolish." That connection might also explain the use of dote to mean acting senile in one's later years.

Dote definition: To show excessive fondness or love.

dote on/upon [phrasal verb] dote on/upon (someone or something) : to give a lot of love or attention to (someone or something)