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vain

adj
/veɪn/US/ven/

Etymology

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.

  1. derived from vānus
  2. derived from vain
  3. inherited from veyn

Definitions

  1. Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance

    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

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

    • I will not hear thy vain excuse
    • Let no man deceive you with vain words.
    • Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.

  3. Effecting no purpose

    Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.

    • vain toil    a vain attempt
    • Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
    • At our old pastimes in the hall ⁠We gambol’d, making vain pretence ⁠Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute Shadow watching all.
  4. ›+ 3 more definitions

    1. Showy

      Showy; ostentatious.

    2. To frustrate.

    3. Acronym of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia.

The neighborhood

Derived

Richard of York gave battle in vain, take someone's name in vain, in vain, vainness, vainly

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for vain. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA