âge

Âge is the measure of the time that has elapsed since the beginning of existence of a person, an animal, an object, or a phenomenon. In humans, age is typically expressed in years after birth, with months and days used for infants and young children. The term can also denote the time since a person began a particular role or event, such as the age of a building or an organization. In science and social sciences, distinctions are made between chronological age, biological age, and perceived age.

Etymology and orthography: In French, the word is usually written âge, with a circumflex. The English equivalent is age. The French form derives from Latin aetas through Old French, with the circumflex reflecting historical sound changes.

Biological aging: Aging refers to the progressive decline of biological function with time. It is influenced by genetics, lifestyle, disease history, and environmental factors. Biological age can diverge from chronological age; researchers study biomarkers that estimate biological age and healthspan. Life expectancy varies by country and over history due to health advances.

Legal and social aspects: Many jurisdictions establish legal ages for activities such as voting, driving, marrying, or contracting; these ages vary by country and context. Societal attitudes toward age affect policy and personal experience, and the term ageism describes discrimination based on age.

Historical and cultural usage: The concept of age also appears in historical terminology, for example to denote eras (the Bronze Age, the Renaissance) and life stages (childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age).