I can not write a paper full, I used to do; and yet
I will not forgive a blank of half an inch from you.
--Swift.
From this time there ensues a long blank in the
history of French legislation. --Hallam.
I was ill. I can't tell how long -- it was a blank.
--G. Eliot.
2. A lot by which nothing is gained; a ticket in a lottery on
which no prize is indicated.
In Fortune's lottery lies A heap of blanks, like
this, for one small prize. --Dryden.
3. A paper unwritten; a paper without marks or characters a
blank ballot; -- especially, a paper on which are to be
inserted designated items of information, for which spaces
are left vacant; a bland form.
The freemen signified their approbation by an
inscribed vote, and their dissent by a blank.
--Palfrey.
4. A paper containing the substance of a legal instrument, as
a deed, release, writ, or execution, with spaces left to
be filled with names, date, descriptions, etc.
5. The point aimed at in a target, marked with a white spot;
hence, the object to which anything is directed.
Let me still remain The true blank of thine eye.
--Shak.
I have stood . . . within the blank of his
displeasure For my free speech. --Shak.
7. A kind of base silver money, first coined in England by
Henry V., and worth about 8 pence; also, a French coin of
the seventeenth century, worth about 4 pence. --Nares.
8. (Mech.) A piece of metal prepared to be made into
something by a further operation, as a coin, screw, nuts.
9. (Dominoes) A piece or division of a piece, without spots;
as, the ``double blank''; the ``six blank.''
{In blank}, with an essential portion to be supplied by
another; as, to make out a check in blank.
To the blank moon Her office they prescribed.
--Milton.
2. Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty
space to be filled in with some special writing; -- said
of checks, official documents, etc.; as, blank paper; a
blank check; a blank ballot.
3. Utterly confounded or discomfited.
Adam . . . astonied stood, and blank. --Milton.
4. Empty; void; without result; fruitless; as, a blank space;
a blank day.
5. Lacking characteristics which give variety; as, a blank
desert; a blank wall; destitute of interests, affections,
hopes, etc.; as, to live a blank existence; destitute of
sensations; as, blank unconsciousness.
6. Lacking animation and intelligence, or their associated
characteristics, as expression of face, look, etc.;
expressionless; vacant. ``Blank and horror-stricken
faces.'' --C. Kingsley.
The blank . . . glance of a half returned
consciousness. --G. Eliot.
7. Absolute; downright; unmixed; as, blank terror.
{Blank bar} (Law), a plea put in to oblige the plaintiff in
an action of trespass to assign the certain place where
the trespass was committed; -- called also {common bar}.
{Blank cartridge}, a cartridge containing no ball.
{Blank door}, or {Blank window} (Arch.), a depression in a
wall of the size of a door or window, either for
symmetrical effect, or for the more convenient insertion
of a door or window at a future time, should it be needed.
{Blank indorsement} (Law), an indorsement which omits the
name of the person in whose favor it is made; it is
usually made by simply writing the name of the indorser on
the back of the bill.
{Blank line} (Print.), a vacant space of the breadth of a
line, on a printed page; a line of quadrats.
{Blank tire} (Mech.), a tire without a flange.
{Blank tooling}. See {Blind tooling}, under {Blind}.
{Blank verse}. See under {Verse}.
{Blank wall}, a wall in which there is no opening; a dead
wall.
2. To blanch; to make blank; to damp the spirits of; to
dispirit or confuse. [Obs.]
Each opposite that blanks the face of joy. --Shak.