Senile
/ˈsiːnaɪl/noun
Relating to or characteristic of old age, especially when marked by mental decline.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin senilis, from senex, meaning “old man” or “old,” the same root behind words like senate and senior, where age once meant authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sen-
“to be old”
Latin
Latin
senex
“an old man; an old person”
Latin
Latin
senilis
“of old age; aged”
Late Latin
Latin
senilis
“aged; showing the effects of old age”
Middle English
English
senile
“pertaining to old age”
Modern English
English
senile
“showing mental decline associated with old age”
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