vain
See also: väin
Contents
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”)
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
vain (comparative vainer or more vain, superlative vainest or most vain)
- Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.
- (Can we date this quote?) Leo Rosten
- Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.
- (Can we date this quote?) Leo Rosten
- Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare
- thy vain excuse
- Bible, Ephesians v. 6
- Let no man deceive you with vain words.
- (Can we date this quote?) John Milton
- Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.
- (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare
- Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.
- vain toil; a vain attempt
- (Can we date this quote?) John Dryden
- Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
- (Can we date this quote?) William of Occam
- It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer.
- 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 6, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
- But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion.
- Showy; ostentatious.
- (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope
- Load some vain church with old theatric state.
- (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope
SynonymsEdit
- (overly proud of oneself): conceited; puffed up; inflated
- (pointless): pointless, futile, fruitless, ineffectual
- See also Thesaurus:arrogant
- See also Thesaurus:futile
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
overly proud of one's appearance
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based on very little substance
pointless, futile
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Further readingEdit
- vain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- vain in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
AnagramsEdit
DalmatianEdit
Alternative formsEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin vīnum. Compare Istriot veîn.
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
vain m
FinnishEdit
EtymologyEdit
Cognate with vaan, Estonian vaid. Probably from va + -in or earlier equivalent.
AdverbEdit
vain
- only, merely, exclusively, solely, just
- ever, in the phrasal adjective mikä vain
- whenever, in the phrasal adjective milloin vain
SynonymsEdit
- vaan (colloquial)
- (only): ainoastaan
- (ever): tahansa
Derived termsEdit
AnagramsEdit
FrenchEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Old French vain, from Latin vānus.
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
vain (feminine singular vaine, masculine plural vains, feminine plural vaines)
SynonymsEdit
Related termsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “vain” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).