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Feebleness or imbecility of understanding or mind, particularly in old age; the childishness of old age; senility; as, a venerable man, now in his dotage. Capable of distinguishing between the infancy and the dotage of Greek literature. Macaulay.

One who dotes; a man whose understanding is enfeebled by age; a dotard. Burton.

T is observed in particular nations, that within the space of three hundred years, notwithstanding all casualties, the number of men doubles. T. Burnet.

perfectly baked; hence, not brought to perfection; unfinished; also, of weak or dull understanding. [Colloq.] Halliwell.

Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid; doltish; blockish. "Dull at classical learning." Thackeray. She is not bred so dull but she can learn. Shak.

(or some ancient form of it) in divine service and varying in many points of detail, but standing in full communion with each other and united as equals in a great federation. The highest five authorities are the patriarch of Constantinople, or ecumenical patriarch (whose position is not one of supremacy, but of prece…

yllable, for the sake of meter or euphony; esp., in poetry, the dropping of a final vowel standing before an initial vowel in the following word, when the two words are drawn together.

Standing out of, or rising above, water. Gray.

In accord, harmony, or sympathy; having a mutual, esp. a private, understanding; of a hypnotic subject, being in such a mental state as to be especially subject to the influence of a particular person or persons.

on; to furnish with increase of knowledge; to instruct; as, to enlighten the mind or understanding. The conscience enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God. Trench.

kind of wealth; to render opulent; to increase the possessions of; as, to enrich the understanding with knowledge. Seeing, Lord, your great mercy Us hath enriched so openly. Chaucer's Dream.

iances." Washington. The difficulties that perplex men's thoughts and entangle their understandings. Locke. Allowing her to entangle herself with a person whose future was so uncertain. Froude.

The mensuration of figures standing on the same base. [Obs.]

Standing upright, with reference to the earth's surface, or to the surface to which it is attached.

Standing partially spread and erect; -- said of the wings of certain insects.

Standing, but with the wings spread, as if about to fly; -- said of a bird borne as a charge on an escutcheon.

Social standing or rank; quality; dignity. God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several estates of men. Jer. Taylor.

Clear to the vision; especially, clear to the understanding, and satisfactory to the judgment; as, the figure or color of a body is evident to the senses; the guilt of an offender can not always be made evident. Your honor and your goodness is so evident. Shak. And in our faces evident the sings Of foul concupiscence.…

wandering; roving; exploring; as, an excursive fancy. The course of excursive . . . understandings. I. Taylor. -- Ex*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Ex*cur"sive*ness, , n.

expediency; seeking advantage; as an expediential policy. "Calculating, expediential understanding." Hare. -- Ex*pe`di*en"tial*ly , adv.