verb (used without object), doted, doting. Also, doat
1.
to bestow or express excessive love or fondness habitually (usually followed by on or upon):
They dote on their youngest daughter.
2.
to show a decline of mental faculties, especially associated with old age.
noun
3.
decay of wood.
Origin
1175-1225;Middle Englishdoten to behave foolishly, become feeble-minded; cognate with Middle Dutchdoten.
Related forms
doter, noun
Examples from the web for dote
Sports fans who dote on statistics should get ready for a new lode.
New parents dote on their babies and toddlers, squealing with joy during their cheerleading efforts.
If they dote on you, you're better off adjusting to the tougher social world in which you'll have to find your way.
Some grandparents gladly volunteer for a job that gives them a chance to dote.
He will dote on his captives until they die or go on display.
They dote, they obsess, they rearrange work schedules for puppy kindergarten.
It explains a lot about the places critics dote on and which diners are so often disappointed in.
British Dictionary definitions for dote
dote
/dəʊt/
verb (intransitive)
1.
foll by on or upon. to love to an excessive or foolish degree
2.
to be foolish or weak-minded, esp as a result of old age
Derived Forms
doter, (now rarely) doater, noun
Word Origin
C13: related to Middle Dutch doten to be silly, Norwegian dudra to shake
Word Origin and History for dote
v.
c.1200, "to be feeble-minded from age," from Middle Low German doten "be foolish," of unknown origin. Meaning "to be infatuated" is from late 15c. Related: Doted; dotes; doting.