vbl. sb. [f. VACATE v.]
1. The action of annulling, making void, or depriving of legal authority or validity.
1648. (title) A Declaration of the Commons of England,… expressing their reasons for the Adnulling and Vacating of these Ensuing Votes.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. xcvii. How … several Lord Mayors … prosecuted the vacating of Patents that they judged entrenching on the Conservacy.
1764. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Mass., ii. (1765), 229. From the restoration until the vacating the charter.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 227. Such a method as the vacating a statute long before extinguished.
2. The action of giving up, leaving, or relinquishing.
1820. Southey, Wesley, I. 121. He therefore looked upon himself to be fully discharged from that cure by the vacating of his primary design.
1855. Brewster, Newton, I. iv. 98. The expected vacating of his Fellowship.
1905. Sat. Rev., 23 Sept., 397/2. The vacating of a Warden’s residence.
