Decrepitude is the state of being decrepit: the worn-out, falling-apart condition of something or someone very old. Writers use it about bodies, buildings, and sometimes whole systems that have grown weak with age.

Decrepitudedecrepitude is是 the state of being decrepit處於decrepit（破敗）的狀態: the worn-out, falling-apart condition破舊、快要垮掉的狀態 of something or someone very old指非常老舊的人或物. Writers作家 use it用這個字 about bodies形容身體, buildings建築物, and而且 sometimes有時候 whole systems整個體制 that have grown weak with age因為老化而變得衰弱。

The decrepitude of the old theatre means years of neglect showing in every crack, not one sudden break.

The decrepitude of the old theatre老劇院的decrepitude means代表的是 years of neglect多年疏於照顧 showing in every crack在每一道裂縫裡都看得出來, not one sudden break不是一次突然的損壞。

It is a formal, bookish noun — you will meet it in novels and essays more than in the shop.

It它 is a formal, bookish noun是個正式、書面的名詞 — you你 will meet it比較會遇到它 in novels and essays在小說和散文裡, more than in the shop在店裡則很少見。

Though actually, it is not a doctor's word. A doctor would talk about frailty, or name the illness. Decrepitude paints a slow wearing-down.

Though actually不過實際上, it它 is not a doctor's word不是醫生會用的詞. A doctor醫生 would talk about frailty會說frailty（虛弱）, or或者 name the illness直接說出病名。 Decrepitudedecrepitude paints描繪的是 a slow wearing-down一種緩慢的衰敗。

You cannot use it as an adjective: not a decrepitude house, but a house in decrepitude, or a decrepit house.

You你 cannot不能 use it as an adjective把它當形容詞用: not a decrepitude house不能說a decrepitude house, but而是要說 a house in decrepitudea house in decrepitude（處於破敗狀態的房子）, or或者 a decrepit housea decrepit house（破敗的房子）。

About a person it is heavy and can sound cold, as if you are talking about a thing.

About a person用在人身上時 it它 is heavy語氣很重, and而且 can sound cold可能聽起來很冷酷, as if好像 you are talking about a thing在講一個東西一樣。