doat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Archaic / Very RareArchaic, Literary, Regional (historical)
Quick answer
What does “doat” mean?
To exhibit a foolish, excessive, or senile fondness or affection.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To exhibit a foolish, excessive, or senile fondness or affection.
An archaic variant of "dote", meaning to be infatuated or lavishly indulgent, often implying a loss of mental sharpness or critical judgement in one's affection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'doat' is equally obsolete in both varieties. The modern standard 'dote' is used in both, with no significant usage difference.
Connotations
When encountered, 'doat' carries a distinctly antiquated, Shakespearean, or early modern English connotation.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary English. More likely to be found in historical texts (16th-18th century) than in modern use.
Grammar
How to Use “doat” in a Sentence
[Subject] + doat + on/upon + [Object of affection]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old knight seemed to doat upon his young squire.
- She doth doat on her lapdog, to a most tedious degree.
American English
- In the colonial diary, the writer confessed he did doat on his wife's singing.
- The character in the play was made to doat foolishly on the villain.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or textual analysis of early modern English.
Everyday
Not used. The modern 'dote' is rare but possible.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doat”
- Using 'doat' in modern writing.
- Confusing it with 'doubt' in pronunciation or spelling.
- Using it without the required preposition 'on/upon'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic spelling of 'dote'. It is not used in contemporary English outside of historical or literary contexts.
It is pronounced identically to the modern word 'dote': /dəʊt/ in British English and /doʊt/ in American English.
No, unless you are specifically analysing historical texts that use this spelling. For all modern purposes, use 'dote'.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Doat' is simply an older, now obsolete spelling of 'dote'. The modern standard spelling is 'dote'.
To exhibit a foolish, excessive, or senile fondness or affection.
Doat is usually archaic, literary, regional (historical) in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DOAT' as 'Doting On A Thing' – an old way to spell the act of foolishly doting.
Conceptual Metaphor
AFFECTION IS A MENTAL WEAKNESS / LOVE IS FOLLY
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'doat' is not used in modern English?