Definitions for: Vain


[adj] unproductive of success; "a fruitless search"; "futile years after her artistic peak"; "a sleeveless errand"; "a vain attempt"
[adj] characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance; "a conceited fool"; "an attitude of self-conceited arrogance"; "an egotistical disregard of others"; "so swollen by victory that he was unfit for normal duty"; "growing ever more swollen-headed and arbitrary"; "vain about her clothes"



Webster (1913) Definition: Vain, a. [Compar. Vainer; superl. Vainest.] [F. vain,
L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. Vanish, Vanity, Vaunt
to boast.]
1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty;
void; worthless; unsatisfying. ``Thy vain excuse.''
--Shak.

Every man walketh in a vain show. --Ps. xxxix.
6.

Let no man deceive you with vain words. --Eph. v. 6.

Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye!
--Shak.

Vain visdom all, and false philosophy. --Milton.

2. Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose;
fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt.

Bring no more vain oblations. --Isa. i. 13.

Vain is the force of man To crush the pillars which
the pile sustain. --Dryden.

3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; having
a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight
reason; conceited; puffed up; inflated.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart
from works is barren? --James ii. 20
(Rev. Ver.).

The minstrels played on every side, Vain of their
art. --Dryden.

4. Showy; ostentatious.

Load some vain church with old theatric state.
--Pope.

Syn: Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal;
shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant;
deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling.


Vain, n.
Vanity; emptiness; -- now used only in the phrase in vain.

For vain. See In vain. [Obs.] --Shak.

In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectually. ``
In vain doth valor bleed.'' --Milton. `` In vain they do
worship me.'' --Matt. xv. 9.

To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God
with levity or profaneness.

Synonyms: bootless, conceited, egotistic, egotistical, fruitless, futile, proud, self-conceited, sleeveless, swollen, swollen-headed, unproductive

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