Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vanity
Van′i-ty
,Noun.
pl.
Vanities
(#)
. 1.
The quality or state of being vain; want of substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity.
Vanity
of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity
of vanities; all is vanity
. Eccl. i. 2.
Here I may well show the
vanity
of that which is reported in the story of Walsingham. Sir J. Davies.
2.
An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one’s personal attainments or decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride; ostentation; conceit.
The exquisitely sensitive
vanity
of Garrick was galled. Macaulay.
3.
That which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.
Vanity of
vanities
, saith the Preacher. Eccl. i. 2.
Vanity
possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come. Sir P. Sidney.
[Sin] with
vanity
had filled the works of men. Milton.
Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled,
That all her
Succeeding
That all her
vanities
at once are dead;Succeeding
vanities
she still regards. Pope.
Webster 1828 Edition
Vanity
VAN'ITY
,Noun.
1.
Emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty; inanity.Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; all is vanity. Eccles. 1.
2.
Fruitless desire or endeavor.Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come.
3.
Trifling labor that produces no good.4.
Emptiness; untruthHere I may well show the vanity of what is reported in the story of Walsingham.
5.
Empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.Sin with vanity had fill'd the works of men.
Think not when woman's transient breath is fled, that all her vanities at once are dead; succeeding vanities she still regards.
6.
Ostentation; arrogance.7.
Inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride, inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations. Fops cannot be cured of their vanity.Vanity is the food of fools.
No man sympathizes with the sorrows of vanity.
Definition 2024
vanity
vanity
English
Vanity (dressing table)
Bathroom vanity
Noun
vanity (plural vanities)
- That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
- 1611, “Ecclesiastes 2:15-16”, in The King James Bible:
- Then I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me and why then was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this is also vanity.
For there is no more remembrance of the wise than the fool forever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
- Then I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me and why then was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this is also vanity.
-
- Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance or achievements.
- A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair. The table is normally quite low and similar to a desk, with drawers and one or more mirrors on top. Either a chair or bench is used to sit upon.
- A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture.
- Emptiness.
- (obsolete) Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.
- It is a vanity to say that if two stones are dropped from a tower, the heavier will experience the greater acceleration.
- Francis Bacon
- To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology.
Synonyms
- conceit
- egotism
- narcissism
- pride
- See also Wikisaurus:arrogance
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
that which is vain
excessive pride
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dressing table — see dressing table
emptiness