Category:Empty

Emp"ty, a. [Compar. Emptier; superl. Emptiest.] Etym: [AS. emtig, æmtig, æmetig, fr. æmta, æmetta, quiet, leisure, rest; of uncertain origin; cf. G. emsig busy.]

1. Containing nothing; not holding or having anything within; void of contents or appropriate contents; not filled; -- said of an inclosure, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room, purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles.

2. Free; clear; devoid; -- often with of. "That fair female troop . . . empty of all good." Milton. I shall find you empty of that fault. Shak.

3. Having nothing to carry; unburdened. "An empty messenger." Shak. When ye go ye shall not go empty. Ex. iii. 21.

4. Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; -- said of language; as, empty words, or threats. Words are but empty thanks. Cibber.

5. Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; -- said of pleasure, the world, etc. Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise. Pope.

6. Producing nothing; unfruitful; -- said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine. Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind. Gen. xli. 27.

7. Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb. That in civility thou seem'st so empty. Shak.

8. Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams.

Note: Empty is used as the first element in a compound; as, empty- handed, having nothing in the hands, destitute; empty-headed, having few ideas; empty-hearted, destitute of feeling.

Syn. -- See Vacant.

empty Emp"ty, n.; pl. Empties (.

Defn: An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."

empty Emp"ty, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emptied; p. pr. & vb. n. Emptying.]

Defn: To deprive of the contents; to exhaust; to make void or destitute; to make vacant; to pour out; to discharge; as, to empty a vessel; to empty a well or a cistern. The clouds. . . empty themselves upon the earth. Eccl. xi. 3.

empty Emp"ty, v. i.

1. To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.

2. To become empty. "The chapel empties." B. Jonson.