Vacuity

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /væˈkjuːɪtɪ/, /vəˈkjuːɪtɪ/
• UK IPA: /vaˈkjuːɪti/, /vəˈkjuːɪti/

Alternative forms

• vacuitie obsolete

Origin

From the Latin vacuitās ("empty space”, “vacancy”, “vacuity"); equivalent to vacuous + -ity.

Full definition of vacuity

Noun

1. Emptiness.
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.12:The meanes I use to suppresse this frenzy, and which seemeth the fittest for my purpose, is to crush, and trample this humane pride and fiercenesse under foot, to make them feele the emptinesse, vacuitie, and no worth of man ....
• 1748, David Hume, Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, III.13:to find so sensible a breach or vacuity in the course of the passions, by means of this breach in the connexion of ideas ....
2. Physical emptiness, an absence of matter; vacuum.
3. Idleness.
4. An empty or inane remark or thing.