senility
Senility refers to mental deterioration that often comes with old age, as in severe memory problems. If you find your shoes in the fridge or accidentally call your son by the dog's name, you may wonder if senility is kicking in.
Senility is related to the word senile, which itself is from the Latin word senilis, meaning "old age." There are subtle differences between senility and Alzheimer's disease, which causes memory loss as well as emotional and behavioral changes. If you suspect someone you care about is experiencing senility or Alzheimer's disease, you should consult a physician because treatments may be available to help slow the process.
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the state of being seniletype of:oldnessthe opposite of youngness
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mental infirmity as a consequence of old age; sometimes shown by foolish infatuationssynonyms: dotage, second childhood
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Vocabulary lists containing senility
George Orwell reflects on imperialism as he recounts an incident that occurred when he was a police officer in Burma. Here are links to our lists for other works by George Orwell: 1984, Animal Farm, Politics and the English Language
Although known more for his novel that humanized animals, George Orwell reflects in an essay about the time when he had to, as a police officer in Burma, shoot a runaway elephant. The author presents this incident with humor, while also emphasizing his hatred of his role in the British Empire. Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 12 Unit 1's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: My Papa's Waltz, in just-, The Last Word, Mushrooms, I Remember, Invisible Man, Four Skinny Trees, Dirty Work, On Seeing England for the First Time, Speaking with Hands, The White Man's Burden, The Poor Man's Burden, Shooting an Elephant, Lindo Jong: Double Face, Stranger in the Village
In this travelogue, acclaimed author John Steinbeck sets out on a roadtrip across America with his best friend, a French poodle named Charley.