nullify
UK[ˈnʌl.ɪ.faɪ]US[ˈnʌl.ə.faɪ]
v
to make something lose its legal force or effectiveness; to make something null and void.
v
to cause something to have no value or effect; to cancel out.
Morpheme Breakdown
null
ify
null
none
ify
to make
Etymology
the word 'nullify' is a direct descendant of late latin nullificare, meaning 'to make nothing'. it is constructed from the latin root nullus ('none', 'not any'), which itself is a compound of ne- ('not') and ullus ('any'), and the productive verb-forming suffix -ify. the suffix originates from latin -ficare, a combining form of facere ('to make' or 'to do'). thus, the literal morphemic composition 'to make none' perfectly captures the modern legal and general senses of rendering something void, invalid, or of no effect. the term entered english in the late 16th century, carrying this precise logical construction from its latin origins into legal and common parlance.
Analysis
Structure: null (none) + ify (to make)
null (from latin nullus, meaning 'none') + ify (a verb-forming suffix from latin -ificare, meaning 'to make').
Examples
the court's decision served to nullify the controversial contract.
a single error can nullify the entire scientific experiment.
they hoped the new evidence would nullify the previous accusations against him.