Emp"ty (?; 215), a. [Compar. Emptier (?); superl. Emptiest.] [AS. emtig, aemtig, aemetig, fr. aemta, aemetta, 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.
⇒ 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.
© Webster 1913.
Emp"ty (?), n.; pl. Empties ().
An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Emp"ty, v. i.
1.
To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.
2.
To become empty.
"The chapel
empties."
B. Jonson.
© Webster 1913.