核心畫面

A good picture for this word is a number being set back to zero. Something had force or value a moment ago, and then a stroke of a pen, or a change somewhere else, leaves it at nothing. The word does not say the thing disappeared; the paper is still on the desk and the money is still in the bank. What has gone is the counting: it no longer adds up to anything.

可以想成一個數字被歸零的畫面。前一刻它還有效力、還有價值,下一刻一支筆或一個變動讓它變成零。這個字並沒有說東西不見了更多收起可以想成一個數字被歸零的畫面。前一刻它還有效力、還有價值,下一刻一支筆或一個變動讓它變成零。這個字並沒有說東西不見了:合約還在桌上,錢還在帳戶裡。不見的是「它還算不算數」這件事。

From the word’s history

The word is null plus -ify, that is, to make something null — to make it zero. The zero in the root is why the word is so total: nullify is not to weaken something, it is to leave it counting for nothing.

這個字是 null 加上 -ify,也就是「使它變成 null」,變成零。字根裡那個「零」,正好解釋了它為什麼那麼徹底:nullify 不是把東西削弱,而是讓它一點都不算數。

Wiktionary etymology in this packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:39660147:28259): From null + -ify.

Two branches

官方把它歸零

歸零的動作由法院或官方做出,對象是文件或結果。

verb · C2

To state officially that something such as a contract, a vote or a result has no legal force, so that in law it no longer counts.

宣告無效(法律)

另一股力量把它吃掉

同樣是歸零,但沒有人宣告,是另一邊的力量把這一邊抵銷掉。

verb · C1

To take away the effect, the value or the good result of something, so that it counts for nothing.

抵銷;使失去效果