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Webster 1913 Edition


Vacant

Va′cant

,
Adj.
[F., fr. L.
vacans
,
-antis
, p. pr. of
vacare
to be empty, to be free or unoccupied, to have leisure, also
vocare
; akin to
vacuus
empty, and probably to E.
void
. Cf.
Evacuate
,
Void
,
Adj.
]
1.
Deprived of contents; not filled; empty;
as, a
vacant
room
.
Stuffs out his
vacant
garments with his form.
Shakespeare
Being of those virtues
vacant
.
Shakespeare
There is no fireside, howsoe’er defended,
But has one
vacant
chair.
Longfellow.
2.
Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free;
as,
vacant
hours
.
Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those . . . at leisure, and
vacant
from the affairs of the world.
Dr. H. More.
There was not a minute of the day which he left
vacant
.
Bp. Fell.
Special dignities which
vacant
lie
For thy best use and wearing.
Shakespeare
4.
Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection;
as, a
vacant
mind
.
The duke had a pleasant and
vacant
face.
Sir H. Wotton.
When on my couch I lie
In
vacant
or in pensive mood.
Wordsworth.
5.
(Law)
Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier;
as, a
vacant
estate
.
Bouvier.
Vacant succession
(Law)
,
one that is claimed by no person, or where all the heirs are unknown, or where all the known heirs to it have renounced it.
Burrill.
Syn. – Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle.
Vacant
,
Empty
. A thing is empty when there is nothing in it;
as, an
empty
room, or an
empty
noddle
. Vacant adds the idea of having been previously filled, or intended to be filled or occupied;
as, a
vacant
seat at table; a
vacant
office;
vacant
hours
. When we speak of a vacant look or a vacant mind, we imply the absence of the intelligence naturally to be expected there.

Webster 1828 Edition


Vacant

VA'CANT

,
Adj.
[L. vacans.]
1.
Empty; not filled; void of every substance except air; as a vacant space between houses; vacant room.
2.
Empty; exhausted of air; as a vacant receiver.
3.
Free; unincumbered; unengaged with business or care.
Philosophy is the interest of those only who are vacant from the affairs of the world.
4.
Not filled or occupied with an incumbent or possessor; as a vacant throne; a vacant parish.
5.
Being unoccupied with business; as vacant hours; vacant moments.
6.
Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as a vacant mind.
7.
Indicating want of thought.
The duke had a pleasant and vacant face.
8.
In law, abandoned; having no heir; as vacant effect or goods.

Definition 2024


vacant

vacant

English

Adjective

vacant (not comparable)

  1. Not occupied; empty.
    vacant lot
  2. Showing no intelligence or interest.
    a vacant stare

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations


French

Pronunciation

Adjective

vacant m (feminine singular vacante, masculine plural vacants, feminine plural vacantes)

  1. vacant

Latin

Verb

vacant

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of vacō