What is "blank deed"

Deed \Deed\, n. [AS. d[=ae]d; akin to OS. d[=a]d, D. & Dan. daad, G. that, Sw. d[*a]d, Goth. d[=e]ds; fr. the root of do. See Do, v. t.]

1. That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an action; a thing done; -- a word of extensive application, including, whatever is done, good or bad, great or small.

   And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done?
   --Gen. xliv. 15.

   We receive the due reward of our deeds.
   --Luke xxiii. 41.

   Would serve his kind in deed and word.
   --Tennyson.

2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. ``Knightly deeds.''
   --Spenser.

   Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn.
   --Dryden.

3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [Obs.]

   To be, both will and deed, created free.
   --Milton.

4. Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed.

5. (Law) A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract.

   Note: The term is generally applied to conveyances of real estate, and it is the prevailing doctrine that a deed must be signed as well as sealed, though at common law signing was formerly not necessary.

   Blank deed, a printed form containing the customary legal phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names, dates, boundaries, etc.

6. Performance; -- followed by of. [Obs.]
   --Shak.

   In deed, in fact; in truth; verily. See Indeed.

Blank \Blank\, a. [OE. blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, fr. F. blanc, fem. blanche, fr. OHG. blanch shining, bright, white, G. blank; akin to E. blink, cf. also AS. blanc white. ?98. See Blink, and cf. 1st Blanch.]

1. Of a white or pale color; without color.

   To the blank moon Her office they prescribed.
   --Milton.

2. Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in with some special writing; -- said of checks, official documents, etc.; as, blank paper; a blank check; a blank ballot.

3. Utterly confounded or discomfited.

   Adam . . . astonied stood, and blank.
   --Milton.

4. Empty; void; without result; fruitless; as, a blank space; a blank day.

5. Lacking characteristics which give variety; as, a blank desert; a blank wall; destitute of interests, affections, hopes, etc.; as, to live a blank existence; destitute of sensations; as, blank unconsciousness.

6. Lacking animation and intelligence, or their associated characteristics, as expression of face, look, etc.; expressionless; vacant. ``Blank and horror-stricken faces.''
   --C. Kingsley.

   The blank . . . glance of a half returned consciousness.
   --G. Eliot.

7. Absolute; downright; unmixed; as, blank terror.

   Blank bar (Law), a plea put in to oblige the plaintiff in an action of trespass to assign the certain place where the trespass was committed; -- called also common bar.

   Blank cartridge, a cartridge containing no ball.

   Blank deed. See Deed.

   Blank door, or Blank window (Arch.), a depression in a wall of the size of a door or window, either for symmetrical effect, or for the more convenient insertion of a door or window at a future time, should it be needed.

   Blank indorsement (Law), an indorsement which omits the name of the person in whose favor it is made; it is usually made by simply writing the name of the indorser on the back of the bill.

   Blank line (Print.), a vacant space of the breadth of a line, on a printed page; a line of quadrats.

   Blank tire (Mech.), a tire without a flange.

   Blank tooling. See Blind tooling, under Blind.

   Blank verse. See under Verse.

   Blank wall, a wall in which there is no opening; a dead wall.