好词典

senility

UK //sɪˈnɪlɪti//US //səˈnɪləti//

词源

源自拉丁语 'senilitas',由 'senex'(意为老人)和后缀 '-ility' 构成,17世纪进入英语。

noun

❶ 指老年人因身体机能衰退而表现出的心智和身体能力下降的状态,通常伴随记忆力减退、思维迟缓等症状。

“His senility became apparent when he started forgetting his grandchildren's names.”

(当他开始忘记孙辈的名字时,他的衰老症状变得明显。)

“The doctor explained that memory loss is a common sign of senility.”

(医生解释说记忆力减退是衰老的常见征兆。)

同义词:dotage, elderliness, mental decline

常见短语

premature senility — 指在相对年轻时就出现的衰老症状,属于非正常的过早衰老现象。

“The rare genetic condition caused premature senility in his early 40s.”

(这种罕见遗传病导致他在40岁出头就出现早衰症状。)