First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1moot
noun \ˈmüt\
Definition of MOOT
1
: a deliberative assembly primarily for the administration of justice; especially : one held by the freemen of an Anglo-Saxon community
2
obsolete : argument, discussion
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Origin of MOOT
Middle English, from Old English mōt, gemōt; akin to Middle High German muoze meeting
Other Legal Terms
2moot
verb \ˈmüt\
: to introduce (an idea, subject, etc.) for discussion
Full Definition of MOOT
transitive verb
1
archaic : to discuss from a legal standpoint : argue
See moot defined for English-language learners
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Examples of MOOT
- And it was they, not the British, who slapped down any suggestion of democratic reform when it was quietly mooted by British colonial officers in the 1950s. —Ian Buruma, New Republic, 24 Sept. 2001
- … he looked for an easy way out. A spot in the stateside Guard would have suited him fine; in the event, he dodged and weaved until a low draft number came along to moot his problem. —Hendrik Hertzberg, New Yorker, 16 & 23 Oct. 2000
- And then the word comes of Ted's inoperable pancreatic cancer, and death moots the long conflict. —Richard Rhodes, New York Times Book Review, 24 Dec. 2000
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Origin of MOOT
(see 1moot)
First Known Use: 15th century
Other Legal Terms
3moot
adjective \ˈmüt\
: not certain : argued about but not possible for people to prove
: not worth talking about : no longer important or worth discussing
Full Definition of MOOT
See moot defined for English-language learners
Examples of MOOT
- Among the many advantages of legislation requiring a label was that it allowed the industry to insist—in court if necessary—that claims against the companies for negligence and deception were now moot. Every smoker would be repeatedly warned that “smoking may be hazardous to your health.” —Allan M. Brandt, The Cigarette Century, 2007
- And the question of delight shouldn't be moot. —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, June 2007
- … a genuine Atlantic political culture might be the result—rendering the fears expressed in this article largely moot. —John O'Sullivan, National Review, 6 Dec. 1999
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Origin of MOOT
(see 1moot)
First Known Use: 1563
Related to MOOT
- Synonyms
- arguable, controvertible, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, issuable, debatable, negotiable, questionable
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