age
Cross references: 1. period 1. age \'a-j\ n [ME, fr. OF aage, fr. (assumed) VL aetaticum, fr. L aetat-, (Xaetas, fr. aevum lifetime - more at AYE 1a: the part of an existence extending from the beginning to any given time 1b: LIFETIME 1c: the time of life at which some particular qualification, power, or capacity arises or rests; specif : MAJORITY 1d: one of the stages of life 2a: the period contemporary with a person's lifetime or with his active life 2b: GENERATION 2c: a long time 3a: a period of time in history or in the development of man or in the history of the earth 3b: a period of time in prehistory characterized by the use of artifacts made from a distinctive material 4: an individual's development measured in terms of the years requisite for like development of an average individual 2. age vb or aged; or ag.ing; or age.ing 1: to become old : show the effects or the characteristics of increasing age 2a: to acquire a desirable quality by standing undisturbed for some time 2b: to become mellow or mature : RIPEN 1: to cause to become old 2: to bring to a state fit for use or to maturity
Webster's English Dictionary