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Webster 1913 Edition

Vanity

Van′i-ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Vanities
(#)
.
[OE.
vanite
, F.
vanité
, L.
vanitas
, fr.
vanus
empty, vain. See
Vain
.]
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
vanities
at once are dead;
Succeeding
vanities
she still regards.
Pope.
4.
One of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See
Morality
,
Noun.
, 5.
You . . . take
vanity
the puppet's part.
Shakespeare
Syn. – Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness; self-sufficiency. See
Egotism
, and
Pride
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Vanity

VAN'ITY

,
Noun.
[L. vanitas, from vanus, vain.]
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; untruth
Here 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.

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