Va"can*cy (?), n.; pl. Vacancies (#). [Cf. F. vacance.]

1.

The quality or state of being vacant; emptiness; hence, freedom from employment; intermission; leisure; idleness; listlessness.

All dispositions to idleness or vacancy, even before they are habits, are dangerous. Sir H. Wotton.

2.

That which is vacant.

Specifically: --

(a)

Empty space; vacuity; vacuum.

How is't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy? Shak.

(b)

An open or unoccupied space between bodies or things; an interruption of continuity; chasm; gap; as, a vacancy between buildings; a vacancy between sentences or thoughts.

(c)

Unemployed time; interval of leisure; time of intermission; vacation.

Time lost partly in too oft idle vacancies given both to schools and universities. Milton.

No interim, not a minute's vacancy. Shak.

Those little vacancies from toil are sweet. Dryden.

(d)

A place or post unfilled; an unoccupied office; as, a vacancy in the senate, in a school, etc.

<-- an unrented apartment, room in a hotel, motel, etc. -->

 

© Webster 1913.

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