*empt*

n. [ L. ademptio, fr. adimere, ademptum, to take away; ad + emere to buy, orig. to take. ] (Law) The revocation or taking away of a grant, donation, legacy, or the like. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'apopemptiko`s, fr. 'apope`mpein to send off or away; 'apo` from + pe`mpein to send. ] Sung or addressed to one departing; valedictory; as, apopemptic songs or hymns. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Attempting. ] [ OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter, fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try, v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See Tempt, and cf. Attend. ] 1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a bold flight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to tempt. [ Obs. or Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It made the laughter of an afternoon
That Vivien should attempt the blameless king. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the virtue of a woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:
Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Try. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make an attempt; -- with upon. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a successful, effort. [ 1913 Webster ]

By his blindness maimed for high attempts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attempt to commit a crime (Law), such an intentional preparatory act as will apparently result, if not extrinsically hindered, in a crime which it was designed to effect. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Attempt, Endeavor, Effort, Exertion, Trial. These words agree in the idea of calling forth our powers into action. Trial is the generic term; it denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view to determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial of one's strength. An attempt is always directed to some definite and specific object; as, “The attempt, and not the deed, confounds us.” Shak. An endeavor is a continued attempt; as, “His high endeavor and his glad success.” Cowper. Effort is a specific putting forth of strength in order to carry out an attempt. Exertion is the putting forth or active exercise of any faculty or power. “It admits of all degrees of effort and even natural action without effort.” C. J. Smith. See Try. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who attempts; one who essays anything. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assailant; also, a temper. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disposed to attempt; adventurous. [ Obs. ] Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Bename. 1. Promised; vowed. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Named; styled. [ Archaic ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. coëmptio, fr. coëmere to buy up. See Emption. ] The act of buying the whole quantity of any commodity. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn. ] 1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame. [ 1913 Webster ]

Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An act or expression denoting contempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Little insults and contempts. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.

Syn. -- Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being contemptible; contemptibleness. Speed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean; vile; despicable. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The arguments of tyranny are ascontemptible as its force is dreadful. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Despised; scorned; neglected; abject. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Insolent; scornful; contemptuous. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he 'll scorn it; for the man . . . hath a contemptible spirit. Shak.

Syn. -- Despicable; abject; vile; mean; base; paltry; worthless; sorry; pitiful; scurrile. See Contemptuous. -- Contemptible, Despicable, Pitiful, Paltry. Despicable is stronger than contemptible, as despise is stronger than contemn. It implies keen disapprobation, with a mixture of anger. A man is despicable chiefly for low actions which mark his life, such as servility, baseness, or mean adulation. A man is contemptible for mean qualities which distinguish his character, especially those which show him to be weak, foolish, or worthless. Treachery is despicable, egotism is contemptible. Pitiful and paltry are applied to cases which are beneath anger, and are simply contemptible in a high degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being contemptible, or of being despised. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contemptible manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Manifesting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; insolent; disdainful. [ 1913 Webster ]

A proud, contemptuous behavior. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

Savage invective and contemptuous sarcasm. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting; contumelious. -- Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person speaks of having “a very contemptible opinion of another.” Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as, contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied to that which indicates contempt; as, a contemptuous look; a contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but can not be contemptuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully. [ 1913 Webster ]

The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used contemptuously. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Disposition to or manifestion of contempt; insolence; haughtiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. diremptus, p. p. of dirimere to take apart, separate; di- = dis- + emere to buy, orig., to take. ] Divided; separated. [ Obs. ] Stow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To separate by force; to tear apart. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. diremptio. ] A tearing apart; violent separation. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To empty. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, empties. [ 1913 Webster ]

compar. of Empty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Empty. ] 1. The state of being empty; absence of contents; void space; vacuum; as, the emptiness of a vessel; emptiness of the stomach. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Want of solidity or substance; unsatisfactoriness; inability to satisfy desire; vacuity; hollowness; as, the emptiness of earthly glory. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Want of knowledge; lack of sense; vacuity of mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eternal smiles his emptiness betray. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sins of emptiness, gossip, and spite. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. emptio, fr. emere to buy. ] The act of buying. [ R. ] Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being purchased. [ 1913 Webster ]

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, or a container, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room, purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Free; clear; devoid; -- often with of. “That fair female troop . . . empty of all good.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall find you empty of that fault. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having nothing to carry; unburdened. “An empty messenger.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

When ye go ye shall not go empty. Ex. iii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; -- said of language; as, empty words, or threats. [ 1913 Webster ]

Words are but empty thanks. Cibber. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; -- said of pleasure, the world, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Producing nothing; unfruitful; -- said of a plant or tree; as, an empty vine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind. Gen. xli. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty brains; an empty coxcomb. [ 1913 Webster ]

That in civility thou seem'st so empty. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty dreams. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Empties An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in transportation of freight; as, “special rates for empties.” [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clouds . . . empty themselves upon the earth. Eccl. xi. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become empty. “The chapel empties.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. needing nourishment; hungry; as, empty-bellied children. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. having acquired or gained nothing; as, the returned from the negotiations empty-handed.
Syn. -- unrewarded. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. carrying nothing in the hands. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. lacking seriousness; given to frivolity.
Syn. -- airheaded, dizzy, featherbrained, giddy, lightheaded, light-headed, silly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act of making empty. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. The lees of beer, cider, etc.; yeast. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. exempt, L. exemptus, p. p. of eximere to take out, remove, free; ex out + emere to buy, take. Cf. Exon, Redeem. ] 1. Cut off; set apart. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Extraordinary; exceptional. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Free, or released, from some liability to which others are subject; excepted from the operation or burden of some law; released; free; clear; privileged; -- (with from): not subject to; not liable to; as, goods exempt from execution; a person exempt from jury service. [ 1913 Webster ]

True nobility is exempt from fear. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

T is laid on all, not any one exempt. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One exempted or freed from duty; one not subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of four officers of the Yeomen of the Royal Guard, having the rank of corporal; an Exon. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Exempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exempting. ] [ F. exempter. See Exempt, a. ] 1. To remove; to set apart. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To release or deliver from some liability which others are subject to; to except or excuse from he operation of a law; to grant immunity to; to free from obligation; to release; as, to exempt from military duty, or from jury service; to exempt from fear or pain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Death
So snatched will not exempt us from the pain
We are by doom to pay. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be exempted. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. exemptio a removing: cf. F. exemption exemption. ] The act of exempting; the state of being exempt; freedom from any charge, burden, evil, etc., to which others are subject; immunity; privilege; as, exemption of certain articles from seizure; exemption from military service; exemption from anxiety, suffering, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Separable. [ Obs. ] “Exemptitious from matter.” Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. p. p. of Kemb; combed. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Neatly kept; tidy. Opposite of unkempt. [ PJC ]

{ } n. Coarse, rough hair in wool or fur, injuring its quality. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; beyond, after + &unr_; a falling upon, fr. &unr_; to fall in or upon; &unr_; in + &unr_; to fall. ] (Chron.) The suppression of a day in the calendar to prevent the date of the new moon being set a day too late, or the suppression of the bissextile day once in 134 years. The opposite to this is the proemptosis, or the addition of a day every 330 years, and another every 2, 400 years. [ 1913 Webster ]

obs. p. p. of Misdeem. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. of Nempne. Called; named. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. Not exempt; subject to (some specified) rule. Opposite of exempt. [ Narrower terms: liable to(predicate); subject, subject to(predicate) ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Specifically: (U. S. Labor Law) Not exempt from the provisions of the fair labor practises act; -- a term applied mostly to persons who are hourly employees, who are required by law to be treated in certain ways. Many salaried and management personnnel are not covered by the law and are therefore exempt. [ PJC ]

v. t. To make too empty; to exhaust. [ R. ] Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]