Obs. [ad. mod.L. vacuista, f. vacu-um VACUUM. So It. and Sp. vacuista, F. vacuiste.] One who maintains the possibility of a vacuum in nature.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., xvii. 122. Those spaces of which the Vacuists would have to be empty, because they are manifestly devoid of Air, and all the grosser bodies.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., II. 132. The second Hypothesis is of the Vacuist’s.
1682. Creech, Lucretius (1683), Notes 14. Mr. Hobs adds another Argument, which is of no force against the Vacuists.
