Etymology: Probably < Law French anient annulled (1523 or earlier; 1497 in Middle French as anyent ), perhaps the past participle of an otherwise unrecorded Middle French verb anier ( < a- a- prefix⁵ + nier to renounce, deny, refuse: see nay v.), or perhaps irregularly < anientir or anienter aniente v., by association with French adjectives in -ient derived from Latin present participles in -ient- , -iens (as e.g. patient patient adj., sufficient sufficient adj., etc.).Alternatively, it is possible that the final -e of the English word was pronounced, suggesting derivation instead < anienté , past participle of Anglo-Norman and Middle French anienter aniente v.

Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman annientir, anintir, anentir, enentir, Anglo-Norman and Middle French anientir (French anéantir : see aneantize v.), and partly (ii) < Anglo-Norman annientier, anentir, enenter, Anglo-Norman and Middle French anienter to destroy, annihilate (13th cent.; c1180 in Old French in faire anienter to cause to cease), to annul (1293) < Anglo-Norman and Old French a- a- prefix⁵ + nient néant n.Compare Old Occitan anientar, Italian annientare (a1294).