from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vacant \Va"cant\, a. [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}, a.]
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1. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as, a vacant
room.
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Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form.
--Shak.
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Being of those virtues vacant. --Shak.
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There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended,
But has one vacant chair. --Longfellow.
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2. Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied;
disengaged; free; as, vacant hours.
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Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of
those . . . at leisure, and vacant from the affairs
of the world. --Dr. H. More.
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There was not a minute of the day which he left
vacant. --Bp. Fell.
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3. Not filled or occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or
officer; unoccupied; as, a vacant throne; a vacant house;
a vacant apartment; a vacant parish.
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Special dignities which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing. --Shak.
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4. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or
reflection; as, a vacant mind.
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The duke had a pleasant and vacant face. --Sir H.
Wotton.
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When on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood. --Wordsworth.
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5. (Law) Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or
occupier; as, a vacant estate. --Bouvier.
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{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.
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Syn: Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged;
unincumbered; uncrowded; idle.
Usage: {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.
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