vainly

English

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English vaynly, veynly, vaynely, veynely, equivalent to vain +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈveɪnli/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪnli

Adverb

vainly (comparative vainlier or more vainly, superlative vainliest or most vainly)

1. In a vain pursuit; to no avail.

   She searched vainly for her reflection in the shattered mirror.

2. With a vain attitude; in a self-approving manner.

   She stared vainly at her reflection in the mirror.

Synonyms

• in vain

Translations

in vain

• Catalan: vanament (ca)
• Esperanto: vane (eo)
• Hungarian: hiába (hu)
• Old Church Slavonic: ашоуть (ašutĭ)
• Plautdietsch: vejäfs
• Russian: напрасно (ru) (naprasno), тщетно (ru) (tščetno), зря (ru) (zrja)
• Spanish: vanamente (es)
• Turkish: boşuna (tr), beyhude (tr), boş yere (tr)

Anagrams

• vilany