dote

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive, stative, usually, with-on) To be weakly or foolishly fond of somebody.
2. (archaic, intransitive) To act in a foolish manner; to be senile.
3. (intransitive, obsolete, rare) To rot, decay.

Noun

1. (Ireland, countable) A darling, a cutie.
2. (countable, obsolete) An imbecile; a dotard.
3. (rare, uncountable) Decay in a tree.

Noun

Dowry.

Synonyms

pamper

spoil

adore

worship

deify

cherish

dote on

indulge

lionise

lionize

miss

overindulge

coddle

praise

rot of wood

treat

decay of lumber

yearn for

be excessively fond of

hero-worship

love dearly

drool over

honor

honour

Translations

choyer

gâter

dollen

dorloter

chochear

schwärmen

schat

verhätscheln

aimer

❤️

aviciar

ξεμωραίνομαι

verziehen

sabbeln

verzärteln

verwöhnen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dəʊt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: doten

In summary

The verb is derived from Middle English doten, from Middle Low German doten (“to be foolish”) or Middle Dutch doten (“to be silly”). Doublet of doit (Scottish English).
The noun in the sense of "imbecile" is derived from Middle English dote (“simpleton”), itself from doten (see above). The noun in the sense of "darling" and "decay" is derived from the modern verb.