How Do You Spell PRESENILE?

Pronunciation: [pɹɪsˈɛna͡ɪl] (IPA)

The word "presenile" is spelled with the prefix "pre-" meaning "before" and the root word "senile" meaning "related to or showing the physical and mental decline associated with old age." The pronunciation of "presenile" is /prɛˈsiːnaɪl/ which is broken down as "pre-" /prɛ/ and "senile" /ˈsiːnaɪl/. The prefix "pre-" is pronounced with a short "e" and the root word "senile" is pronounced with a long "e" followed by the "n" sound. Together they create a word that means "before the onset of senility."

PRESENILE Meaning and Definition

1. Presenile is an adjective that describes a stage or condition that occurs before the typical onset of old age or senility. The prefix "pre-" indicates "before," while "senile" refers to the mental and physical decline associated with old age. Therefore, presenile is used to describe symptoms or changes in an individual's cognitive or physical functions that occur prematurely or earlier than expected in relation to old age.

   Generally, presenile is used to characterize conditions or disorders that affect individuals below the age of 65, which is considered the typical threshold for the onset of old age. It is commonly associated with the development of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, where cognitive decline and memory loss occur before the usual age of onset.

   Presenile symptoms may include memory impairment, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, behavioral changes, and impaired decision-making abilities. These symptoms often gradually worsen over time, leading to significant functional impairment and an eventual diagnosis of dementia or a related disorder.

   In recent years, the term "presenile" has been somewhat replaced by "early-onset" to describe individuals developing dementia or similar conditions before the age of 65. This change in terminology aims to reduce the stigma attached to the condition and emphasize that these individuals' experiences are not limited to the elderly population.

2. Prematurely old; marked by the physical and mental characteristics of old age, though not old in years.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PRESENILE

• oresenile
• lresenile
• -resenile
• 0resenile
• peesenile
• pdesenile
• pfesenile
• ptesenile
• p5esenile
• p4esenile
• prwsenile
• prssenile
• prdsenile
• prrsenile
• pr4senile
• pr3senile
• preaenile
• prezenile
• prexenile
• predenile

Etymology of PRESENILE

The word "presenile" is derived from the combination of two roots: "pre-" and "senile".

The prefix "pre-" comes from Latin, meaning "before" or "prior to". It is commonly used to indicate something occurring before a particular event or condition.

The word "senile" derives from the Latin word "senilis", meaning "old age" or "pertaining to old age". It is associated with the natural aging process that affects mental or physical faculties, typically occurring in later stages of life.

Therefore, "presenile" combines the prefix "pre-" with the word "senile" to indicate something occurring or appearing before the typical age associated with senility or old age. It is often used to describe conditions or characteristics resembling those of aging, but occurring earlier than expected.