ˈempty-ˈhanded, a.
[see empty a.]
Having nothing in the hand: chiefly in phrases, to go, come, etc. empty-handed. a. Bringing nothing, esp. no gift. Also fig.
| 1613 Purchas Pilgr., Descr. India (1864) 40 None..may come before the King with any Petition emptie-handed. 1775 Sheridan Rivals ii. ii, I guessed you weren't come empty-handed. 1850 W. Irving Goldsmith 31 His daughter..entered her husband's family empty-handed. 1871 Rossetti Poems, Last Confess. 22, I passed a village-fair..And thought, being empty-handed, I would take Some little present. |
| fig. 1855 Smedley Occult Sc. 258 Proving..that the prescient spirit comes empty-handed. |
b. Carrying nothing away.
| 1635 Austin Medit. 137 Departing as he [Christ] did emptie-handed from the world. 1835 W. Irving Tour Prairies 119 He [the hunter] returned empty-handed. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. vii. 102 At all events Swegen went away empty-handed. |