Definition of "void"

I'll get me to a place more void.

1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene iv]

And the earth was without forme, and voyd, and darkeneſſe was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of the waters.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Genesis 1:2, column 1

I'll chain him in my study, that, at void hours, / I may run over the story of his country.

c. 1619–22, Philip Massinger and John Fletcher, A Very Woman

divers great offices that had been long void

1625, Francis [Bacon], Apophthegmes New and Old. […], London: […] Hanna Barret, and Richard Whittaker, […]

Suppoſe they be in number infinit,Yet being voyd of Martiall diſcipline,All running headlong after greedie ſpoiles: […] Their careleſſe ſwords ſhal lanch their fellows throatsAnd make vs triumph in their ouerthrow.

c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, (please specify the page)

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Proverbs 11:12

[My word] shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Isaiah 55:11

I will make void the counsel of Judah.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Jeremy 19:7

Taiwan's government says that as the island has never been ruled by the People's Republic of China, its sovereignty claims are void.

2022 September 21, Martin Pollard, Ben Blanchard, “China willing to make utmost effort for peaceful 'reunification' with Taiwan”, in Michael Perry, editor, Reuters‎, archived from the original on 21 September 2022, Asia Pacific‎

And senseless words she gave, and sounding strain, / But senseless, lifeless! idol void and vain!

1728, Alexander Pope, “Book II”, in The Dunciad; republished in The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, Boston, New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1902, page 231

In particular, the roll method is void — it has no return value.

2005, Craig Larman, Applying UML and patterns

The return value can safely be ignored if it is a void function.

2007, Andrew Krause, Foundations of GTK+ Development

Pride, where Wit fails, steps in to our defence, / And fills up all the mighty void of Sense.

1711, Alexander Pope, “Part II”, in An Essay on Criticism, lines 9–10; republished in The Complete Poetical Works of Alexander Pope, Boston, New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1902, page 70

From the logistics hub, the spoil will be taken by rail to Barrington in Cambridgeshire, Cliffe in Kent, and Rugby in Warwickshire. It will be used to fill voids at these locations which will then be used for housing developments.

2022 December 14, Paul Stephen, “HS2's Dorothy starts to dig second tunnel bore”, in RAIL, number 972, page 23

It was become a practice […] to void the security that was at any time given for money so borrowed.

1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “(please specify |book=I to XVI)”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the Theater, published 1707

after they had voided the obligation of the oath he had taken

1724, [Gilbert] Burnet, edited by [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […]

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

With shovel, like a fury, voided out / The earth and scattered bones.

1612, John Webster, The White Devil

a watchful application of mind in voiding prejudices

a. 1692, Isaac Barrow, The Danger and Mischief of Delaying Repentance

BY than come in to the feld kynge Ban as fyers as a lyon […] / Ha a said kyng Lot we must be discomfyte / for yonder I see the moste valyaunt knyght of the world / and the man of the most renoume / for suche ij bretheren as is kyng Ban & kyng bors ar not lyuynge / wherfore we must nedes voyde or deye(please add an English translation of this quotation)

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xvj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book I

Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon; And whan hem lyked, voyded it anon.

1394, Chaucer, “v. 1149”, in The Franklin's Tale‎

If they will fight with us, bid them come down, / Or void the field.

1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

Late on the final evening, as the customary ‘void’ – spiced wine and sweetmeats – was served, more elaborate disguisings in the great hall culminated in the release of a flock of white doves.

2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 68