dotardlyadj.
/ˈdəʊtədli/, U.S. /ˈdoʊdərdli/ Foolish, stupid; (also) of impaired intellect or understanding in old age.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > weakness of intellect > [adjective] > senile
doteda1375
dotardc1405
dotterel1577
dotardly1632
doitereda1790
doitrified1808
doitering1828
gaga1920
1632 P. Hausted Rivall Friends iv. viii. sig. I4 Am not I an olde foole? An old dotardly foole.
1851 A. Campbell Christian Baptism vi. v. 371 Such a superannuated, dotardly affair as this Carthage decision.
1926 J. J. Batistich & G. R. Noyes tr. I. Voknovich in Poet Lore 37 338 If our dotardly leaders refuse to go, the army will tread over them.
2006 Film Comment Sept. 15/1 The Queen Mother [is portrayed]..as dotardly and self-absorbed.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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