Emp"ty (?; 215), a.
[Compar. Emptier (?);
superl. Emptiest.] [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.
&fist; 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.
Emp"ty (?), n.; pl.
Empties (&?;). An empty box, crate, cask,
etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as,
"special rates for empties."
Emp"ty, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Emptied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Emptying.] 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.
Emp"ty, v. i. 1.
To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the
ocean.
2. To become empty. "The chapel
empties." B. Jonson.
