dote

Dote is a verb in English meaning to be excessively fond of someone or something, often to the point of indulgence. The most common construction is dote on (or dote upon) someone, as in “she dotes on her grandchildren.” The sense conveys warmth and affection, but it can also imply imprudent or excessive indulgence.

An older or literary nuance associates dote with diminished judgment due to affection or age; this is reflected in the related noun dotage, which denotes the decline of mental faculties in old age. The adjective doting describes someone who is excessively fond, typically in a gentle or affectionate way. In contemporary usage, doting can be seen as positive praise for devoted affection or as a light humorous reminder of overindulgence.

Etymology and history: The exact origin of dote is uncertain, but the word appears in English usage from the medieval period and has since maintained the core sense of affectionate indulgence. The familiar expression dote on/upon remains common across formal and informal registers.

Usage notes: Dote is usually transitive, taking a person as its object, and can carry either a warmly approving tone or a light, joking one depending on context. It is less commonly applied to objects unless used metaphorically (e.g., “doting on his favorite book”). See also dotage and doting for related senses.