nugatory

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The Word of the Day for March 16 is:

nugatory   \NOO-guh-tor-ee\   adjective
    *1 : of little or no consequence : trifling, inconsequential
     2 : having no force : inoperative

Example sentence:
     The team's heartbreaking loss in the first game of the championship
series was rendered nugatory after they came back to win the next
four.

Did you know?
     "Nugatory," which first appeared in English in the 17th century,
comes from the Latin adjective "nugatorius" and is ultimately a
derivative of the noun "nugae," meaning "trifles." Like its synonyms
"vain," "idle," "empty," and "hollow,"
"nugatory" means "without worth or significance." But while "nugatory"
suggests triviality or insignificance ("a monarch with nugatory powers,"
for example), "vain" implies either absolute or relative absence of value
(as in "vain promises"). "Idle" suggests being incapable of worthwhile use
or effect (as in "idle speculations"). "Empty" and "hollow" suggest a
deceiving lack of real substance or genuineness (as in "an empty attempt
at reconciliation" or "a hollow victory").

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.





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