If you ask an American to define “moot point,” they’d likely say it refers to an irrelevant issue unworthy of further discussion. But most British people would claim the opposite — that moot points are worth debating further. To understand how such an unusual distinction emerged, let’s take a closer look at the term’s Old English origins.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, “moot” was coined in the 12th century as a shortened version of the Old English gemot, meaning “formal assembly.” These gemot were meetings of groups of freemen, gathering to debate issues of a legislative or judicial nature. By the 16th century, “moot” evolved into a noun for a hypothetical case for law students to practice. In fact, “moot courts” are still common in law schools around the English-speaking world.

In time, “moot” developed a wider use in the general lexicon. British English speakers began using “moot point” to describe any uncertain issue worth debating — formal legal issues or otherwise. But in America, “moot” came to mean something very different by the early 20th century. According to Merriam-Webster, American English speakers adopted “moot point” to describe pointless matters that were undeserving of debate. This newer definition was based on the idea that rhetorical arguments in moot courts had no actual effect on the real world, and neither did moot points.

You might also enjoy

Language

English Dialects: British vs. American

Slang

We're Chuffed to Adopt These British Slang Terms

Whichever side of the debate (and pond) you fall on, a moot point can mean one of two very different things. Just don’t mistakenly spell or pronounce it “mute point.” 

Earlier this year, we published a list of terms coined by our very own staff members — words that we think are missing from the dictionary, but fulfill a unique need. At the end of that article, we encouraged readers to send in ideas of their own, and you answered that challenge in a major way. Based on your many wonderful suggestions, we’ve compiled a list of original terms conceived of by you — our Word Smarts readership. Let’s take a look at a few of those original recommendations.

Reader Anne P. told us her husband, Donald, coined the word “drismal.” It describes a state of being both dismal and drizzly, as on those gloomy and overcast days when it’s lightly misting outside. One example of how you might use the word is, “It’s so drismal out; let’s just stay inside.”

The word “hypertenuse” comes from our reader Mark P. It’s inspired by the extant word “hypotenuse,” which is the longest side of a right triangle. But according to Powell, this new term designates “a ‘long cut’ between two points that is longer than the straight-line distance.” For example, think of the street layout of a major city — while the shortest distance between two locations may be a straight line, you can’t just walk through buildings. Instead, you’ll probably end up walking around two longer perpendicular blocks (i.e., the hypertenuse).

Not to be confused with the snack brand Lunchables, “fridgables” refers to perishable items that need to be stored in the refrigerator (e.g., meats, cheeses, etc.). This comes to us from our reader Julia H., who tells us that whenever she gets a grocery delivery, she always puts her fridgables away before tackling the other nonperishable items.

The word “infanticipation” is a suggestion from reader and retired speech pathologist Ginny N. She relayed a story to us about one of her patients who was struggling to explain that his daughter was expecting a baby. That patient came up with the new word “infanticipation,” as in “the act of anticipating an infant.” Nagy described herself as being delighted by this suggestion, and we are too.

New construction builds have a reputation of leading to eyesores or shoddy structures. In that case, you could describe the project as a “destrelopment” — a portmanteau of the words “destroy” and “development.” This recommendation comes from Rich P., who adds that the person or group responsible for these projects is called a “destreloper.”

You’ve probably used a spatula to flip pancakes or turn over an omelette. But why not use the verb “spatulate” instead — an idea that comes to us from reader Tim B. He describes the word “spatulate” as a word useful for anything that may require a spatula in the kitchen. You can spatulate pancakes, omelettes, grilled cheese, and more.

Reader Miguel S. tells us that years ago he was a stay-at-home dad but wasn’t a big fan of the term. Instead he coined a new one: “houseband.” This simple alternative works for a full-time father who stays at home with their children, and for husbands who are maintaining a household without children, as well.

Some people can’t grow houseplants for the life of them. Those who can may want to start using the word “bushifluent.” Reader Teegie H. says this word can be used to “describe a healthy houseplant that is flourishing and really growing.”

You might also enjoy

Slang

12 Modern Words Added to the Dictionary

Vocabulary

5 New Words We Think Should Exist

Last but not least, we have the word “equimonious,” which comes to us from reader Gale R. It’s similar to “equanimous,” which means “calm and composed,” but it’s used a bit differently. According to Rawson, “equimonious” is used to describe a well-balanced and harmonious household. She used it to describe her friend Larry, who lives among three generations of family members who all get along well. Neither she nor Larry recognized the word when she first said it, but they came to agree that it should exist.

Bingo is all fun and games — until you realize that just one alphanumeric pair is standing between you and victory. The anxiety builds until you finally hear the magic combination: “N31.” You immediately jump up and shout, “Bingo!” But what does that word mean? Yes, it’s the name of the game of chance in which you need to have the right combination of numbers lined up on your board, but where did the word come from? 

Bingo halls can be found everywhere, and iterations of music bingo, drag bingo, and other themed events remain popular, but the etymological roots of the word are murky. The truth is that we may never know exactly where “bingo” came from, as the theories are tenuous. The best information from the Online Etymology Dictionary links the word to a recreational context, as “bingo” was used as slang for alcohol as far back as the 1690s, prior to making its way into American English around the 1850s.

Around the early 20th century, “bingo” became used as an exclamation to indicate completion or correctness. Lexicographers from the Oxford English Dictionary speculate that “bingo” might be a shortened version of the phrase “bingo-bango,” which has been used since the 1880s to describe a series of quick blows.

You might also enjoy

Grammar

What’s the Highest-Scoring Scrabble Word?

Vocabulary

What Does ‘Ante’ Mean in ‘Up the Ante’?

It wasn’t until the 1920s that an already-popular game of chance embraced “bingo” as its title. One (possibly apocryphal) origin story claims the name change came about because of a mistake. Prior to bingo, people played a variant called “beano,” in which players covered their numbers with dried beans. It’s said that a winning player got so excited, they accidentally shouted “bingo” instead of “beano,” and a new title for the game was born. The next time you’re playing bingo, try the old-fashioned version with some dried beans and see how your luck holds.

If your family is firmly established in a community, you may describe them as having laid down roots, much like an old oak tree. You might want to refer to your family’s position as “deep-seeded” — but while there’s an undeniable botanical connection between roots and seeds, there’s a clear grammatical distinction between the two.The proper spelling for this adjective is actually “deep-seated,” and there’s an etymological reason to help you remember. 

“Deep-seated” comes from the verb “to seat,” with one definition meaning “to install in a seat of dignity or office” and another being “to put in a sitting position.” According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the adjective form dates to 1741, when it more literally meant “having its root far below the surface.” Despite the connection to roots, the usage was always intended to be related to “seat,” not “seed.” By 1847, “deep-seated” developed a figurative meaning of being “firmly implanted.” People often refer to a person’s strongly held convictions as “deep-seated beliefs,” or old customs as being “deep-seated traditions.” All this is to say that “deep-seeded” is the incorrect spelling, despite the possible path you could trace from the act of planting seeds.

There are times when it’s OK to use the word “seeded,” but it should never follow the prefix “deep-.” For example, in sports, the concept of “seeding” appeared in tennis tournaments in the early 20th century. The term’s origin is unknown, but one idea is that players were “planted” in a certain spot so that players of certain desired rankings would end up playing each other. “Seeding” has since expanded to other tournament sports, namely college basketball, in which fans might talk about “the fifth-seeded UCLA squad.” 

You might also enjoy

Slang

Why Do We Say ‘Flash in the Pan’?

Vocabulary

Can You Use ‘Literally’ Figuratively?

As a final reminder for choosing the correct spelling of the adjective, think of the well-established outline of your rear end in your favorite recliner. This is perhaps the most literal example of something that could be considered “deep-seated,” as it’s a depression that took hundreds of hours to produce. So if you’re ever confused about whether it’s “deep-seated” or “deep-seeded,” just remember the idea of leaving a souvenir of your seat in a comfy chair.