age

Multiple Entries:
  age    -age  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
age/eɪʤ/

▶noun

• 1 the length of time that a person or thing has existed.

  ■ a particular stage in someone's life.

  ■ old age.

• 2 a distinct period of history.

  ■ a division of geological time that is a subdivision of an epoch.

  ■ (ages/an age) informal a very long time.

▶verb (ages, ageing or aging, aged) grow or cause to appear old or older.

■ (with reference to an alcoholic drink, cheese, etc.) mature.

– phrases
act (or be) one's age behave in a manner appropriate to someone of one's age.
come of age reach adult status (in UK law at 18).
of an age

• 1 old enough to be able or expected to do something.

• 2 (of two or more people or things) of a similar age.

– derivatives
ageing (also aging) noun & adjective.

– origin ME: from OFr., based on L. aetas, aetat-, from aevum ‘age, era’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-age

▶suffix forming nouns.

• 1 denoting an action or its result: leverage.

  ■ a function; a sphere of action: homage.

  ■ a state or condition: bondage.

• 2 denoting an aggregate or number of: mileage.

  ■ a set or group of: baggage.

  ■ fees payable for: postage.

• 3 denoting a place: vicarage.

– origin from OFr., based on L. -aticum, neut. form of the adjectival ending -aticus.