second childhood
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - A state of mental decline or childish behavior associated with old age, often characterized by a loss of mature judgment and sometimes by foolish or doting actions.
Usage
- The term "second childhood" is used to describe a perceived regression in an elderly person's mental faculties, where they may exhibit behaviors considered childlike, such as simplicity, dependency, or infatuation with trivial things.
- It is a somewhat dated and potentially insensitive term. More modern and clinical terms like "senility" or "age-related cognitive decline" are often preferred.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The concept is sometimes used metaphorically outside of aging to describe any adult who acts with childish irresponsibility, though this is less common.
- His reckless spending spree was like a second childhood.
Variants and Related Words
- Dotage (n): The period of life in which a person is old and weak, often with declining mental faculties.
- Senility (n): The condition of being senile; physical and mental decline associated with old age.
Synonyms
- Dotage
- Senility
- Anility (specifically for women)
Related Idioms
- In one's dotage: An idiom meaning in a state of feeble old age.
- The stories he told in his dotage were often confused and repetitive.
Noun
- mental infirmity as a consequence of old age; sometimes shown by foolish infatuations