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I was having a largely moot discussion earlier about the word moot, and the contexts in which moot can be unmootly used. That is, contexts in which it has a purpose and makes some sort of sense.
In trying to find a proper definition I came across a short article about the mootly subject of the word moot:
The adjective moot is originally a legal term going back to the mid-16th century. It derives from the noun moot, in its sense of a hypothetical case argued as an exercise by law students. Consequently, a moot question is one that is arguable or open to debate. But in the mid-19th century people also began to look at the hypothetical side of moot as its essential meaning, and they started to use the word to mean “of no significance or relevance.” Thus, a moot point, however debatable, is one that has no practical value. A number of critics have objected to this use, but 59 percent of the Usage Panel accepts it in the sentence The nominee himself chastised the White House for failing to do more to support him, but his concerns became moot when a number of Republicans announced that they, too, would oppose the nomination. When using moot one should be sure that the context makes clear which sense is meant.
So it appears the word moot has a long and profound history. But, however long and profound its history is, and however riddled with struggles its life has been, I really don't get why there should be a need for a "usage panel" to discuss how this word should be used. A usage panel? A USAGE PANEL? I mean, is this some sort of crazy way of reducing unemployment? This crazy way being creating usage panels to discuss odd and often forgotten words. That would employ another 5 or 10 people. Problem solved, I guess. No more bums.
So back to moot. I still don't actually have a particularly good explanation of what this word means. So what is moot really? What does it really mean? (email i_know_moot@yapoti.net if you know of any better definition than the one above). Is this article moot? Am I moot? Are you moot? Is a turkey moot? Who knows if it is moot or not moot - I guess it depends on the context.
Moot
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