Lexical Definition

‎κενός‎ kenós (ken-os') empty ^G:A
apparently a primary word

empty, (in) vain.

• empty (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

κενός, -ή, -όν, [in LXX chiefly for ריק and cognate forms;]
empty (Ge 37:24, Jg 7:16). Metaph.,
(a) empty, vain: λόγοι, Eph 5:6; ἀπάτη, Col 2:8; κήρυγμα, πίστις, I Co 15:14;
(b) vain, fruitless: ἡ χάρις, I Co 15:10; κόπος, I Co 15:58; ἡ εἴσοδος, I Th 2:1; κενά, Ac 4:25(LXX); εἰς κενόν, in vain, to no purpose (Diod., LXX; cl. διὰ κενῆς), II Co 6:1, Ga 2:2, Phl 2:16, I Th 3:5;
(c) of persons, empty-handed: Mk 12:3, Lk 1:53 20:10, 11; vain, Ja 2:20.†
SYN.: μάταιος, of the aim or effect of an action, κ. of its quality (Lft. on Cl. Rom., I Co., § 7; Tr., Syn., xlix).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

κενός, ή, όν,

Ionic dialect and poetry κεινός [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect also κενεός, as always in [Refs 8th c.BC+] (except in Il.[same places], and κενός [Refs 8th c.BC+], and in Doric dialect, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Aeolic dialect κέννος, accusative to Greg. Cor.p.610 [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but οἱ Αἰολεῖς.. οὐ λέγουσι κέννος Choerob.in [Refs], from κενϝος, kenevos,[Refs 5th c.AD+] κενευϝός [Refs]

__I mostly of things, empty, opposed to πλέως, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to πλήρης, [Refs]; opposed to μεστός, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὸ κ. (i.e. τάλαντον) the empty one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χώματα κεινά, ={κενοτάφια}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατέθισαν ἐπὶ κενευϝῶν (i.e. τάφων genitive singular) [Refs 5th c.AD+]; κ. χρόνος a pause in music, Anon.[Refs 1st c.AD+]; of wool and wine, uncertain meaning in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὸ κ. the void of space, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ κ., ={τόπος ἐστερημένος σώματος}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἢν κενεὸν λάβῃ [ἡ διακοπή] if it penetrates the (brain-) cavity, [Refs 5th c.BC+][same place]; especiallyAstrology texts, not occupied by a planet, κ. δρόμος [Refs 4th c.AD+]; compare κενοδρομέω.
__I.2 empty, fruitless, void, κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐλπίς, ἐλπίδες, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τέρψις[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀπόντων κενὴν κατηγορεῖν bring an idle charge, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ineffectual, λύγξ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πουλυμαθημοσύνης, τῆς οὐ κενεώτερον ἄλλο Timo [same place]; πολλὰ κ. τοῦ πολέμου [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐπιθυμίαι, opposed to φυσικαί, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ διὰ κενῆς ἐπανάσεισις τῶν ὅπλων empty flourishing of arms, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διὰ κενῆς ῥίπτειν throw without a projectile, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κεκλάγγω διὰ κενῆς ἄλλως to no purpose, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατὰ κενοῦ χανεῖν Suid. see at {λύκος ἔχανε; κατὰ κενοῦ φέρειν τὰς χεῖρας} [Refs 1st c.AD+]; κατὰ κ. βαίνειν, ={κενεμβατεῖν}, [Refs 1st c.AD+]: regular adverb κενῶς, διαλεκτικῶς καὶ κ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II of persons and things,
__II.1 c.genitive, destitute, bereft, τοῦ νοῦ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. φρονήσεως, ἐπιστήμης, [Refs]; κ. πόνου without the fruits of toil, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 absolutely, empty-handed, αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μενειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀπίκατο, οἱ μὲν κεινοί, οἱ δὲ φέροντες κτλ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of camels, without burdens, unloaded, opposed to ἔγγομοι, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; κ. ἂν ἴῃ.., κ. ἄπεισιν [LXX+5th c.BC+]; bereft of her mate, λέαινα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; orphan, Ἔρωτες [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ὑπ᾽ ἄσθματος κενοί exhausted.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of places, without garrison, χῶραι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the body, without flesh, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.2.b devoid of wit, vain, pretentious, κεινὸς εἴην [NT+5th c.BC+]
__III comparative and superlative, κενότερος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; -ότατος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κενώτερος, -ώτατος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κενεώτερος Timo (see. above); κενεώτατος variant in [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Gen.31.42 ☩ Jas.2.20}