Moot (Adjective)
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Pronunciation: [‘mut]

Definition 1: Debatable.

Usage 1: The noun "moot" refers to an assembly of people, particularly if the assembly is for debate or law-making - a meaning employed by JRR Tolkien when he described his Ents meeting in an "Entmoot." So the first meaning of the adjective "moot" refers to discussion and argument. But in the 16th century, the noun took on a specifically legal meaning - the meeting of law students at the Inns of Court in London, in order to debate hypothetical legal cases. The association with legal hypotheticals has persisted, and has led, mainly in the USA, to the adoption of a second adjectival usage - to indicate something that is ultimately pointless. As might be expected, the verb "to moot" originally meant to argue or discuss, but it has now shifted its ground to mean "to bring up for debate." A topic that is open to discussion is "mootable;" the person who broaches such a topic is its "mooter."

Definition 2: Irrelevant.

Suggested usage: Be aware of the conflicting meanings of this word, and restrict its use to situations in which the sense is clear from context - the boss may be willing to accept that his latest scheme is open to argument, but not that it is irrelevant: "Your usage of ‘moot’ is somewhat moot, Noreen."

Etymology: From Old English "mót," an assembly - which is related, of course, to the verb "meet."

—Grant Hutchison, Dundee, Scotland

Then there is the take on this word of Joey from Friends (which I believe I have mentioned here before):

Joey: All right, Rach. The big question is, "does he like you?" All right? Because if he doesn’t like you, this is all a moo point.
Rachel: Huh. A moo point?
Joey: Yeah, it’s like a cow’s opinion. It just doesn’t matter. It’s moo.

It’s at the point where my wife and I don’t say "moot" anymore, just "moo".  The point is moo.

Brad

I especially liked the Tolkien reference… Does anyone at all admire what that man did for the English language?

[quote author=Nymann link=board=todays;num=1053435782;start=0#2 date=05/21/03 at 14:53:37] ... Does anyone at all admire what that man did for the English language?

Perhaps if you could tell us what service you mean it was that Mr Tolkien performed for the English language ?...

Henri

His stories are nothing special, but his language and knowledge of languages… He’s on an upper level of existence, Henri, but you wouldn’t understand it…

Katy, who says I have the age I worte there in my profile…? Hehehe  ;D

http://www.lordoftherings.net/legend/gallery/images/rotk/image0.jpg

[quote author=Nymann link=board=todays;num=1053435782;start=0#5 date=05/23/03 at 13:23:24] ... He’s on an upper level of existence, Henri, but you wouldn’t understand it…

No, alas, I seem to be weighted down by my leaden and pedestrian soul. But just what do these higher levels of existence have to do with services rendered to the English language ?...

Henri

Whether J.R.R. Tolkien has performed great service to the English Language or whatever plain of existence he may reside upon - the point is moot!

Sorry - couldn’t resist that one.

Personally, I do think Tolkien has done people (if not necessarily the English Language) a great service -  by successfully awakening the imaginations of millions.

-KS

who shamelessly admits to being a big fan of LOTR (I’ve read the series 10 times to date and am sure to give it a couple more dusting offs over the next few years),

[quote author=KatyBr link=board=todays;num=1053435782;start=0#9 date=10/16/03 at 00:31:44]

now we know! ...

Chapeau bas for your research, Katy, (with, of course, a really emphatic waggle) !...

Henri

[quote author=KatyBr link=board=todays;num=1053435782;start=0#9 date=10/16/03 at 00:31:44]found on: http://www.yaelf.com/index.shtml, while browsing

Interesting place! Now we can see where you got words for money from.

I have mentioned the book "Caught in the Web of Words" by K.M. Elisabeth Murray before, this is the story of the birth of the OED and is fascinating. The book is mainly about Dr. (later Sir James) Murray, the first editor and so may not cover Tolkien’s contributions. " The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness and the Oxford English Dictionary" by Simon Winchester tells the tale of another contributor to the OED.