![]() Now, nearly a decade later, the approving percentage could well be even higher. Eighty-three percent of the Usage Panel accepted the adjective’s modified meaning (the verb form is now defunct except in rare instances in the U.K.). In 2008, the challenging force finally took over. In a 1988 American Heritage Dictionary survey, 59 percent of the dictionary’s Usage Panel accepted the adjective moot as meaning superfluous or academic. The camps would remain well opposed for several more decades with the separatists gaining a gradual edge along the way. Camps consequently divided into adherents to the original meaning and separatists intent on giving the word a different life in a new age. The vernacular broom was starting to sweep aside centuries of established, hard-working usage. to reduce or remove the practical significance of make purely theoretical or academic.” to present or introduce (any point, subject, project, etc.) for discussion. Moot’s 1966 verb form in the dictionary meant “4. subject to argument or discussion debatable doubtful: a moot point. In 1966, The Random House Dictionary of the English Language defined the adjective moot as “1. The greater, more determined challenge would infiltrate only a few decades later. In 1934, Webster’s New International Dictionary defined the adjective form of moot as “Subjected or subject to argument or discussion disputed as, a moot case or question.” It also included a verb form meaning “To argue for and against to discuss to propose, or bring up, for discussion.” In spite of this encroachment, the original meaning would stand firm for many years before being confronted more vigorously with the prospect of change. ![]() Within legal circles, moot could then also be used to express a point of little relevance or practical value. A moot point was one lacking certainty and needing greater evidence for substantiation.ĭuring the 1800s, however, some English speakers began imbuing the word with the sense of being hypothetical or having questionable relevance. One such word is moot.ĭating back to the 1500s, English law students used it within legal exercises to describe something that was arguable and open to debate or discussion. Others obtain a duality that makes them hard to discern. Those who follow the evolution of English understand that some words with a once-fixed identity can get pulled into the pool of common use and begin to lose their form. I find your material especially valuable in the proofreading work that I am doing. I subscribe to your e-newsletter and also browse through. ![]() They are not only an excellent review for English-speaking students, but they are also great for people learning English as a second language. ![]() I absolutely love your grammar tips and quizzes on your website. My how we do forget what we learned so many decades ago. Thank you for your wonderful Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. Having trouble viewing this message? Click here to view it online. ![]()
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