nugatory definition | Dictionary.com

nu⋅ga⋅to⋅ry

[noo-guh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, nyoo-]

–adjective

1.	of no real value; trifling; worthless.

2.	of no force or effect; ineffective; futile; vain.

3.	not valid.

Origin:
1595–1605; < L nūgātōrius worthless, useless, trifling, equiv. to nūgā(rī) to trifle + -tōrius -tory ¹

Synonyms:
1. trivial, insignificant, frivolous. 2. useless, inoperative.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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nu·ga·to·ry (nōō'gə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē, nyōō'-)

adj.

Of little or no importance; trifling.
Having no force; invalid. See Synonyms at vain.

[Latin nūgātōrius, from nūgātor, trifler, from nūgārī, to trifle, from nūgae, jokes.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Nugatory

Nu"ga*to*ry\, a. [L. nugatorius, fr. nugari to trifle, nugae jests, trifles.]

1. Trifling; vain; futile; insignificant.

2. Of no force; inoperative; ineffectual.

If all are pardoned, and pardoned as a mere act of clemency, the very substance of government is made nugatory. --I. Taylor.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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nugatory

"trifling, of no value," 1603, from L. nugatorius "worthless, futile," from nugator (gen. nugatoris) "jester, trifler," from nugatus, pp. of nugari "to trifle," from nugæ (gen. nugarum) "jokes, jests, trifles," of unknown origin.

Main Entry: nu·ga·to·ry
Pronunciation: 'nü-g&-"tOr-E, 'nyü-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin nugatorius, from nugari to trifle, from nugae trifles
: being without operative legal effect nugatory>

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