Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VA-CA'TION, n. [Fr. from L. vacatio.]

1. The act of making void, vacant, or of no validity; as, the vacation of a charter.
2. Intermission of judicial proceedings; the space of time between the end of one term and the beginning of the next; non-term.
3. The intermission of the regular studies and exercises of a college or other seminary, when the students have a recess.
4. Intermission of a stated employment.
5. The time when a see or other spiritual dignity is vacant. During the vacation of a bishopric, the dean and chapter are guardians of the spiritualities. – Cyc.
6. Leisure; freedom from trouble or perplexity. [Now little used.] – Hammond.