empty English · revision 4294

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 897|origins=ang ǣmetta}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈemp.ti/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|empti]], emti,^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|ǣmtiġ]], ǣmettig,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) formed from [[m|ang|ǣmetta|t=leisure, rest]] and the suffix -ig, the source of [[-y]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Ǣmetta is perhaps from ǣ- “not, without” and -metta, related to mōtan “to have to”, the source of [[must]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) or, in the Oxford view, from mōt “meeting”, the source of [[moot]].^(SOED 2002)^(NODE 1998) Watkins traces it to a Proto-Germanic *e-mot-ja-, from *mot- “ability, leisure”.^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The p is a sound inserted between m and t.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of persons, “at leisure, not occupied; also unmarried”: about 897, in Alfred's translation of Gregory's Pastoral Care.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The American Heritage notes that Old English Ic eom ǣmtig could mean “I am empty”, “I am unoccupied” or “I am unmarried”.^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The personal senses did not outlive Old English;^(OED 1989)^(AHD 2000) the sense “containing nothing”, of a receptacle, and “vacant, unoccupied”, of a place, are from 971.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The same change from “at leisure” to “empty” happened in other languages, as in Modern Greek ádeios.^(Etymonline) Of words, “destitute of force or effect”, it is from the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) “Hungry” is from 1593,^(OED 1989) and of a farm animal, “not pregnant”, from 1900.^(OED 1989) The verb, from 1526 in Barnhart and the 1520s in Etymonline, replaced Middle English empten, from Old English geǣmtigian.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun, an empty container, is from 1865, at first of barges, freight cars and mail bags.^(Etymonline) The proverb ''empty vessels make the most noise'' goes back to Lydgate in the 15th century,^(Cresswell 2021) and ''empty-nester'' is from 1960.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 897 – at leisure; unmarried.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 971 – containing nothing; vacant.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-14th century – of words, without force.^(Etymonline)

+ * 15th century – ''empty vessels''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+ * 1526 – verb.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1593 – hungry.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1865 – noun, an empty container.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1960 – ''empty-nester''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Holding or containing nothing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Having no occupants; [[vacant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lacking purpose, meaning or substance: ''empty promises''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Hungry.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lacking; [[devoid]]: ''empty of meaning''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' Having no members: ''the empty set''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To remove the contents of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To pour out or transfer completely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a river, to [[discharge]] its water: ''empties into the sea''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An empty bottle, can or other container.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[emptily]]

+ * [[emptiness]]

+ * [[emptier]]

+ * [[empty-handed]]

+ * [[empty-headed]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[must]]

+ * [[moot]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage separates empty, for what is without contents or substance, as an empty box or empty promises, from vacant, for what is without an occupant or incumbent, as a vacant seat.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}