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Carpal Tunnel
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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. [AHD]
but whichever the case, it certainly is NOT (as a former colleague of mine would say) a "mute point!"
-ron obvious
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Carpal Tunnel
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so, should we take a meeting?
formerly known as etaoin...
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addict
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addict
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Never imagined there would be more than one bonehead that says "mute point"! Wondering if that other one also says "mannuerisms". 
ÅΓª╥┐↕§
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Carpal Tunnel
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Well--since it started off as a hypothetical case argued as an exercise by ... students. , then I think it's perfectly acceptable to think of it as “of no significance or relevance.”
The current meaning/usage is not a problem for me! However, I have to admit that many times, I probably dislike a new usage more because it is a change than because of the usage itself, and I can't help but wonder whether that might also explain why A number of critics have objected .
Poor, pitiful humans, we; but whatchagonnado? We are the way we are...
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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My boss saying mute point didn't bother me that much but when he advised me to "flush out" my outline...
Hmmm, why is it always bosses?
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Carpal Tunnel
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J.R.R. Tolkien uses moot as a noun.
"Where is Entmoot?" Pippin ventured to ask.
"Hoo,eh? Entmoot?" said Treebeard, turning round."It is not a place, it is a gathering of Ents." We're going to a moot.
(oleh!, one for a birthday present.)
Last edited by BranShea; 04/11/2007 7:05 AM.
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Carpal Tunnel
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J.R.R. Tolkien uses moot as a noun.
That is because moot has an archaic meaning of meeting, from Old English mót 'meeting'. It is related to the word meeting from Old English métan 'to meet'. Another archaic Germanic word for meeting is thing, as in the Icelandic Althing (Alðing) 'parliament, congress'.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Nice information and meeting again. Althing suddenly brings back
" Njál's Saga ", read long ago and one of the lent out , never gotten back ones. Beautiful as I remember and about a.o that Althing .Thanks!
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Expanding on tsuwm's discussion a bit ...
In law, a moot point is one which presents only abstract questions of law which do not rest on existing rights or facts. Generally, an issue is moot when it is impossible for the court to fashion a remedy to the controversy. Normally, a court will decline to address a moot issue, but will address it if it presents a question of public significance which is likely to recur and yet evade judicial review.
It being the nature of people, litigation can tail off into a controvery whether the court should be deciding the underlying issue. It is possible for an intervening circumstance to then render the mootness issue moot.
But the word is fun to say. Moot moot moot moot moot ...
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