Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913
Empty
Emp′ty, 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.
☞ 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 (ĕmp′ty̆), 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.