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Vain

//veɪn// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.

    "Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed."

  2. 2
    Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.

    "I will not hear thy vain excuse"

  3. 3
    Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.

    "vain toil    a vain attempt"

  4. 4
    Showy; ostentatious.

    "Yet ſhall (my Lord) your juſt, your noble Rules / Fill half the land with imitating Fools: / VVho random dravvings from your ſheets ſhall take, / And of one beauty many blunders make; / Load ſome vain Church with old Theatric State, / Turn Arcs of Triumph to a Garden-gate, […]"

Adjective
  1. 1
    unproductive of success wordnet
  2. 2
    characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Acronym of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
Verb
  1. 1
    To frustrate. dated, obsolete, rare, transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”).

Etymology 2

A conversion of the adjectival form of vain. The only use of this verb in English appears c. 1628 in the writings of Owen Felltham.

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