Make Your Point > Archived Issues > NUGATORY

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explore the archives: Something nugatory is valueless or trifling: it carries no weight, it makes only a hair______ing difference, or, it doesn't even matter, like a b_g_t_ll_ or a n_n_nt_ty. make your point with... "NUGATORY" Straight from the Latin word for "frivolous, insignificant, worthless, or futile," "nugatory" describes anything that's so unimportant or so worthless that it should be ignored. Pronunciation: NEW guh tore ee Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a nugatory thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was nugatory.") Other forms: The noun is "nugatoriousness," but it's awkward. I suggest "triviality," "insignificance," or "worthlessness" instead. How to use it: This word has a serious, formal tone. Pick it instead of "trivial," "negligible," "valueless," etc. when you need to express a serious, formal dismissal of something as having no force, no weight, no impact, or no significance.  A risk, a threat, or a chance of something happening may be nugatory, or so tiny that you can just ignore it. We also ignore nugatory comments, points, commentaries, information, explanations, concerns, complaints, and objections. Nugatory changes, increases, decreases, growth, and reductions are all too small to make a difference. Something might create only nugatory effects, results, returns, or benefits--so it's not even worth it. You might treat something as nugatory, or point out how one thing renders another nugatory. And if people or things have nugatory defects, mistakes, faults, disabilities, or other shortcomings, that's great: they carry on or work well in spite of these minor, trivial, unimportant flaws. examples: When I worked in retail, my gutsy boss Fabian would respond to that old nugatory threat of "I'm never shopping here again!" by asking for the customer's promise. Don't bother taking paid surveys online--the payouts are nugatory. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "nugatory" means when you can explain it without saying "trifling" or "having no real impact." try it out: Think of someone or something you love. Fill in the blanks: "(Someone or something) can't (do a particular thing very well), a nugatory (flaw/defect) when you consider (something truly great about that person or thing)." Example: "After we clear the leaves away, the back yard can't stay clean for longer than an hour in the fall, a nugatory flaw when you consider the shade it provides and the space it gives our little girl to run."  before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with the original and literal meanings of familiar words. I'll give you three words and their original or literal definitions, and you'll match them up. Easy! But then the following day, see if you can recall those old meanings. Hard! :) Our game has two purposes. One, we'll visit the interesting, thought-provoking old meanings of words. And two, we'll remind ourselves of a powerful learning strategy: delayed recalling. Let's play! First, try to recall from yesterday the original meanings of "lecture" and "hurry" and the literal meaning of "matinee." Answers appear at the bottom of this issue. Next, match these words to their original or literal definitions in the answer bank below: 1. "Lunch" originally meant _____ 2. "Husband" originally meant _____ 3. "Animate" literally means _____ Answer bank: A. "to give breath to." B. "a thick piece (of something like bread or cheese)." C. "the master of the house." review today's word: 1. One opposite of NUGATORY is A. COMPLEX B. SIGNIFICANT C. HONORABLE 2. _____ rendered those Black Friday discounts nugatory. A. The ease of online ordering and the store's excellent selection B. Greater percent-off incentives for buying in bulk C. Gradual price-hiking weeks before the sales Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to game questions: 1. "Lecture" originally meant "the act of reading." 2. "Hurry" originally meant "commotion." 3. "Matinee" literally means "morning." Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C