30-Second Word Whoop: “Void”

Arguably the most novel novel of all time is A Void by Georges Perec, as much a word game as an invention. The book is wholly void of the common letter E. Even more impressive: It was translated from its original, E-depleted French version. And it’s not even a bad novel.

I’m unsure I could write a sentence sans E let alone a 288-page book. Here is an E-less plot synopsis:

“As his country is torn apart by social and political anarchy, Anton Vowl, a chronic insomniac, falls off all radar. Ransacking his Paris flat, a group of his faithful companions trawl through his diary for any indication, for any faint hint, as to his location.”

PrEtty MEaty.

“Void” as a noun rings hollow. As an adjective it’s invalid or not binding. It feels fairly non-binding as a verb as well (to empty or to cancel), accompanied by a sickening whooshing sound. “Devoid” is even more depraved. Funny the verb and adjective are older than the noun, each deriving from Anglo-French circa the 1300s while the noun emerged — not in a vacuum — in the 1600s.

What’s with that “null and void” redundancy? Early legalese, from medieval times when lawyers paired words from different languages to cast out any ambiguity or to add emphasis. Other examples of linguistic doublets: “breaking and entering” (English/French), “fit and proper” (English/French), “lands and tenements” (English/French), “will and testament” (English/Latin), “have and hold” (English/English — gotcha!).

As depressing as it sounds, “void” has a playful side. In card games like bridge or whist it refers to a suit from which a player is dealt no cards.

A still from the 1943 Hitchcock movie Shadow of a Doubt in which Alfred Hitchcock makes a cameo holding this “perfect” bridge hand, void of everything but spades.

Play your cards right, though, and “void” has a bright side. One can be void of malice or bacteria. Maybe not so much bacteria.

Constructions like “avoid” are less involuntary, even empowering. We actively avoid people, places and things that mean us harm. Though there might be a hint of passivity in avoidance.

If I could avoid my weekly margarita binge that fills the senseless void, I’d do less voiding of both bladder and bank account.

As you ponder the void, enjoy a dance break from 1980s South African sensation éVoid, whose thing is also wordplay: