Thing Not To Be Today: nugatory.

(British people, if they happen to say this word (which they hardly ever do) would say it NYOOgatorry, or NYOOgatree.)

Something that's nugatory is of little value. It's a trifling kind of a thing, and that's why this this word is hardly ever used. Nugatory is a formal, dignified kind of a word, and anyone who's being that formal and dignified isn't often going to lower himself (or herself, or themselves) to notice something so insubstantial.

Have you ever heard a bishop expounding on till receipts? Or a president speaking of pop corn? A monarch on paper tissues?

I think not, though if they did these might unkindly be termed nugatory remarks.

The only person who is really at all likely to use this word is a judge, because for him (or her, or them) a nugatory law is one which is not valid.

For the rest of us, then all we have to do to avoid being nugatory is to be worth something, or else to do something reasonably worthwhile.

And you are. You do. Every one of you. 


photo by Sérgio Valle Duarte

You're all marvellously, immensely valuable.

Not nugatory at all.

Thing Not To Be Today: nugatory. This word comes from the Latin word nūgātōrius, from nūgāri to jest, from nūgae, which are trifles.