Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vain
Vain
(vān)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Vainer
; sup
erl.
Vainest
.] 1.
Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
“Thy vain excuse.” Shak.
Every man walketh in a
vain
show. Ps. xxxix. 6.
Let no man deceive you with
vain
words. Eph. v. 6.
Vain
pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shakespeare
Vain
wisdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.
2.
Destitute of force or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual;
as,
. vain
toil; a vain
attemptBring no more
vain
oblations. Isa. i. 13.
Vain
is the force of manTo crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
Dryden.
3.
Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; having a high opinion of one’s own accomplishments with slight reason; conceited; puffed up; inflated.
But wilt thou know, O
vain
man, that faith apart from works is barren? James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.).
The minstrels played on every side,
Vain
of their art. Dryden.
4.
Showy; ostentatious.
Load some
vain
church with old theatric state. Pope.
Syn. – Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal; shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant; deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling.
Vain
,Noun.
Vanity; emptiness; – now used only in the phrase
in vain
. For vain
. See
In vain
. [Obs.]
Shak.
– In vain
, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectually.
“ In vain doth valor bleed.” Milton.
“ In vain they do worship me.” Matt. xv. 9.
– To take the name of God in vain
, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.
Webster 1828 Edition
Vain
VAIN
,Adj.
1.
Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1Peter 1.To your vain answer will you have recourse.
Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. 39.
Why do the people imagine a vain thing? Ps. 2.
2.
Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain.Vain is the force of man.
3.
Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited.The minstrels play'd on every side, vain of their art -
4.
Empty; unreal; as a vain chimers.5.
Showy; ostentatious.Load some vain church with old theatric state.
6.
Light; inconstant; worthless. Prov. 12.7.
Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain.8.
False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1.9.
Not effectual; having no efficacyBring no more vain oblations. Is. 1.
In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual.
In vain they do worship me. Matt. 15.
To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.