age

age [āj]

n.

[ME < OFr aage < ML * aetaticum < L aetas, contr. < aevitas, akin to aevum, age, eternity < IE base * aiw- > AYE¹]

1. the time that a person or a thing has existed since birth or beginning

2. usual or expected life span [the age of a medieval peasant was quite short]

3. a stage of life [she is at the awkward age]

4. the condition of being old; old age [wearied with age]

5. a generation

6.

a) any interval of geologic time; specif., a subdivision of an epoch corresponding to the rock strata of a STAGE (n. 13)

b) any prehistoric cultural period in human development [the Stone Age]

c) a period characterized by some person or by some outstanding feature or influence [the Elizabethan Age, the Space Age]

7. [often pl.] Informal a long time

vi.

aged, aging or ageing

1. to grow old or show signs of growing old

2. to ripen or become mature

vt.

1. to make, or make seem, old or mature

2. to cause to ripen or become mature over a period of time under fixed conditions [to age cheese]

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of age

having reached the age when one has full legal rights: see also COME OF AGE under COME