Vain
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 Acronym of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 1 To frustrate. dated, obsolete, rare, transitive
- 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 Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
"I will not hear thy vain excuse"
- 3 Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.
"vain toil a vain attempt"
- 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, […]"
- 1 unproductive of success wordnet
- 2 characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance wordnet
Example
More examples"We knocked at the door for five minutes, but in vain."
Etymology
From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”).
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.