The word "without contents" is spelled as /wɪðˈaʊt ˈkɒntɛnts/. The first part, "without," is spelled with a short i sound as in "with," followed by the voiced th sound as in "the" and a vowel cluster of au pronounced as "ow" in "now." The second part, "contents," is spelled with a short o sound as in "hot," followed by the voiceless t sound, then a schwa sound as in "uh," and the vowel combination of "en" pronounced as "ent." This term refers to something that lacks substance, details or information.
Without contents means lacking or empty of any substance or material. It refers to a state or condition in which something, such as a container, object, or space, is devoid of anything tangible or significant. When something is described as being without contents, it implies that there is a lack of physical or meaningful content within a defined area or dimension.
For example, a container labeled as "without contents" means that it does not contain any items or materials. It is empty and does not possess any substance that would usually fill it. Similarly, a room described as being without contents would indicate that it is empty, with no furniture, objects, or decorations present.
The term without contents can also be applied metaphorically in a non-physical sense. It may refer to a situation or condition where something lacks substance, depth, or value. For instance, a speech that is deemed as without contents suggests that it lacks meaningful or significant information. It may be superficial, hollow, or lacking substance. In this context, without contents implies a deficiency of substance or material of importance, rendering the subject matter uninteresting or trivial.
The phrase "without contents" does not have a specific etymology, as it is a combination of two common English words. However, exploring the origins of each word can provide insight into their meaning.
- "Without" is derived from Old English "wiþūtan", which combines "wiþ" (against) and "ūtan" (outside). Over time, it evolved into the Middle English "withouten" and eventually became "without" in Modern English. The word is used to indicate the absence or lack of something.
- "Contents" comes from the Latin word "contentus", which means "contained" or "enclosed". It pertains to the material or information present within a particular object, container, or context.
Therefore, when combined, "without contents" implies a state or condition of lacking or not possessing any material or information within a specific entity or context.