-lactant-

a. [ L. lactans, p. pr. of lactare to suck, fr. lac, lactis, milk. ] Suckling; giving suck. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Deprived of contents; not filled; empty; as, a vacant room. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being of those virtues vacant. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended,
But has one vacant chair. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unengaged with business or care; unemployed; unoccupied; disengaged; free; as, vacant hours. [ 1913 Webster ]

Religion is the interest of all; but philosophy of those . . . at leisure, and vacant from the affairs of the world. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was not a minute of the day which he left vacant. Bp. Fell. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Special dignities which vacant lie
For thy best use and wearing. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Empty of thought; thoughtless; not occupied with study or reflection; as, a vacant mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duke had a pleasant and vacant face. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

When on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) Abandoned; having no heir, possessor, claimant, or occupier; as, a vacant estate. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Empty; void; devoid; free; unemployed; disengaged; unincumbered; uncrowded; idle. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ]