This is the follow up question of When to use “nugatory”?

So if we look at the Ngram of the word nugatory, it is noticeable that the word has been nugatory throughout the time. The trend starts from 1840, and has never gone up. It is slowing down, but still, there is no sign of coming back. Maybe someday it will become obsolete, like quizzaciously.

I really have no idea to explain it. Any idea? image description

  • It seems its usage is turning up at the end. Who knows? – user140086 Oct 11 '15 at 9:33
  • Clearly, the word has had its desired effect, and fewer things are nugatory today than used to be the case. Thus, there are fewer opportunities for its use. – TRomano Oct 11 '15 at 12:07
  • This is due to the natural process of progressive and unrelenting nugratorication. It is explained by the 2nd law of thermodynamics. – Drew Oct 11 '15 at 20:56
  • @Drew i don't see any relation to the "entropy will always increase" law. Can you elaborate that? – Ooker Oct 12 '15 at 4:31
  • It was a joke. Increasing entropy means increasing noise, decreasing signal/meaning/information. – Drew Oct 12 '15 at 14:49

Natural selection.

The English language derives from Germanic, French, Greek and Latin roots. This is an explanation for the the many synonyms we have.


Germanic - finger

Latinate - digit

Both of the above survive. We use 'finger' in everyday language. The word 'digit' is used in scientific contexts.

Nugatory has many rival synonyms. Why should it survive? If it is used in a particular context (for example law) then it will survive for that reason. It may be known only within that context -- ordinary people probably never hear it.

If you want to understand in detail how this works, words can be considered to be memes.



| improve this answer | |
  • I agree. Predicting a demise of a certain word is prediciting a demise of human beings. – user140086 Oct 11 '15 at 9:48
  • nice explanation. First time I know that digit = finger. It seems that digit has evolved to something else to avoid the rival of finger – Ooker Oct 11 '15 at 9:49

Your Answer

