dementia

(di mens̸hə)

noun

  1. Obsolete insanity; madness
  2. Psychiatry a disorder of the mind affecting perception, memory, and judgment, characterized by reduced ability to remember, control muscular movements, recognize familiar objects and sounds, etc.

Origin: L, insanity < demens: see dement

See dementia in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, resulting from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain. It is sometimes accompanied by emotional disturbance and personality changes.
  2. Madness; insanity. See Synonyms at insanity.

Origin:

Origin: Latin dēmentia, madness

Origin: , from dēmēns, dēment-, senseless; see dement

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Related Forms:

  • de·menˈtial adjective

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