nugatory

[Bailey]

Nugatory (adj) of no real value; trifling; worthless; of no force or effect; ineffective; futile; vain; insignificant; inconsequential

This expressive little word comes to us from the Latin (where else) nugatorius, from nugari meaning "to trifle," which in turn comes from nugae meaning "jests, trifles."

I'm sure you'll find more than one occasion to think this (even if you don't actually say it) in the coming week. Life is filled with nugatory moments!

mark neg-atory Bailey

[skinem]

Describes much of the bureaucracy at work.

[Bailey]

Describes much of the bureaucracy at work.

I would have said it is bureaucracy, at it's finest. The acheivement of mediogrity.

mark but-then-what-do-I-know-about-it Bailey

[sluggo]

Nugatory (tm): The New Purgatory
- now with MortaliClean Plus!

[Ferrus]

I once used this selfsame word in a forum, which only occasioned the query: 'what's wrong with "worthless"'.

[Bailey]

But, but but... this is a WORD forum. We all collect little nugatory nuggets.

mark that's a-nugatory-to-you-little-buddy Bailey

[gailr]

Bailey, better you should collect nugatory nougats (helps avoid that whole waist/mind gestalt).

[sweet nothings]

-gailr

[Bailey]

no nougats for me,alas, I'm still on my anti-diabetic diet, soon I'll be healed and 40 lbs lighter, at this rate. I work hard enough everyday to compensate for all those years sitting in my cube. I'll have all new furniture too.

mark chimps-ain't-smart-but-they-lively Bailey

[Stargzer]

mark neg-atory Bailey

Scrolling down the nugatory posts, I was reminded of Bailey's word, one from back in the CB Radio daze: negatory, the diametric opposite of "That's a big 10-4 Good Buddy." Turns out it appears in Websters 1828 Dictionary:

NEGATORY, a. That denies; belonging to negation. [Little used.]

OneLook has it from Webster's 1913:

Quick definitions (negatory)

(a.) Expressing denial; belonging to negation; negative.

(This definition is from the 1913 Webster's Dictionary and may be outdated.)

Wiktionary has it:

English

Etymology
From Latin negatorius


Adjective
negatory

negative

Adverb
negatory

(military) no

Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/negatory"

[Perry]

So why didn't the 1828 Webster's have 10-4. How could the editors have been so lacking in foresight.