Moot

Etymology

From Old English "mōt," "a meeting or assembly" (a gemōt). In the law schools a "moot" was a hypothetical case argued for practice, which gave the adjective its sense of "debatable." American usage then pushed it further: a point argued only for exercise has no real stake, so moot came to mean "of no practical significance."

adjective · /MOOT/
No longer worth arguing, because the issue is purely hypothetical or has ceased to matter.
What it names
A question that has been overtaken by events — once the deal fell through, whether to sign it became moot — or, in older usage, one merely open to debate.
Example
The committee spent an hour on a rule the board had already scrapped, making the whole debate moot.
Related idea
Distinct from superfluous: something superfluous is more than you need, while a moot point is not that a step is excess but that the question itself no longer bites.
verb · /MOOT/
To raise a subject for discussion; to put an idea forward to be considered.
What it names
the act of floating a proposal — bringing a question up for debate
Example
The idea of a merger was first mooted at last year’s meeting.
Related idea
The verb and the adjective both trace to the “moot,” an old assembly for debate: a matter mooted is thrown open to argument — which is also why a “moot point” can mean simply arguable, not only settled beyond use.