senile Hear it!

senile definition

se·nile (sē′nīl′, sen′īl′)

adjective

    1. of, typical of, or resulting from old age: now chiefly medical
    2. showing the marked deterioration often accompanying old age, esp. mental impairment characterized by confusion, memory loss, etc.
  2. Geol. nearing the end of an erosion cycle

Etymology: L senilis < senex, old: see senate

Related Forms:

  • senilely se′·nile′ly adverb
  • senility se·nil′·ity (sə nil′ə tē) noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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