Disannuls

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Formally cancels or nullifies something so that it is treated as though it never existed, especially an agreement, marriage or legal decision
2. Declares an earlier act, contract or ruling void and without legal force, wiping it out entirely
3. Makes an existing arrangement or decree of no effect, revoking it completely as if it had never taken place

Etymology: "Disannuls" is the third-person singular form of "disannul," which means to annul or cancel something completely. The verb is built from two parts: the prefix "dis-," which reverses or removes an action, and "annul," which means to make void. Together they describe the undoing of something that was once in effect. The base word "annul" comes from Late Latin "annullare," formed from Latin "ad-" and "nullum," meaning "nothing." That Latin root, "nullus," is also the source of the English word "null," so "annul" literally means to reduce something to nothing. Adding "dis-" intensifies that sense of removing an existing arrangement or decision altogether.