moot

Moot is defined as to bring something up to discuss or debate.

(verb)

An example of moot is a motion being proposed in a debate class.

The definition of moot is a subject that is not worthy of discussion because it has been resolved.

(adjective)

An example of moot is whether or not to allow prayer in public school.

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See moot in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. an early English assembly of freemen to administer justice, decide community problems, etc.
  2. a discussion or argument, esp. of a hypothetical law case, as in a law school

Origin: ME mote < OE mot, gemot, a meeting & prob. ON mot < Gmc base *mot- > Goth gamotjan, to meet

adjective

  1. subject to or open for discussion or debate; debatable
  2. not worthy of consideration or discussion because it has been resolved or no longer needs to be resolved

transitive verb

  1. to debate or discuss
  2. to propose or bring up for discussion or debate
  3. to make so hypothetical as to deprive of significance; make academic or theoretical

See moot in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Law A hypothetical case argued by law students as an exercise.
  2. An ancient English meeting, especially a representative meeting of the freemen of a shire.
transitive verb moot·ed, moot·ing, moots
  1. a. To bring up as a subject for discussion or debate.
    b. To discuss or debate. See Synonyms at broach1.
  2. Law To plead or argue (a case) in a moot court.
adjective
  1. Subject to debate; arguable: a moot question.
  2. a. Law Without legal significance, through having been previously decided or settled.
    b. Of no practical importance; irrelevant.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, meeting

Origin: , from Old English mōt, gemōt

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Related Forms:

  • mootˈness noun
Usage Note: 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.

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