blank

Word Origin & History

early 13c., "white, pale, colorless," from Old French blanc "white, shining," from Frankish *blank "white, gleaming," or some other West Germanic source (cf. Old Norse blakkr, Old English blanca "white horse;" Old High German blanc, blanch; German blank "shining, bright"), from Proto-Germanic *blangkaz "to shine, dazzle," extended form of PIE root *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn" (see bleach (v.)).

Meaning "having empty spaces" evolved c.1400. Sense of "void of expression" (a blank look) is from 1550s. Spanish blanco, Italian bianco are said to be from Germanic. Related: Blankly, blankness.

Example Sentences forblank

Robin's pale, blank face had a sick look, a deadly smoothness.

I will sign you a blank cheque, which your uncle can fill up with the amount he has stolen.

The blank astonishment of her face had proved that to him beyond a doubt.

But Rima, what had she expected that her face wore that blank look of surprise and pain?

The cover was blank; it was sealed with a small device, as of a ring seal.

His intellect was a blank; he had no knowledge, no desires, no affections.

Blank darkness enveloped him when first he opened eyes to wonder.

She was so much out, and so much in her own room, that he began to miss her and to find a blank in her place.

He mentioned this now in his own office, and Roland received it with blank consternation.

But we must now regard the application of blank verse to the use of the drama.

blank

nothings

omission

overpower

overpowered

oversight

pokerfaced

powerless

space

blank

More words related to blank