Inflected forms: vain·er, vain·est 1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt.2. Lacking substance or worth: vain talk.3. Excessively proud of one's appearance or accomplishments; conceited. 4.Archaic Foolish.
IDIOM:
in vain1. To no avail; without success: Our labor was in vain.2. In an irreverent or disrespectful manner: took the Lord's name in vain.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vnus, empty. See eu- in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:
vainly —ADVERB vainness —NOUN
SYNONYMS:
vain, empty, hollow, idle, nugatory, otiose These adjectives mean lacking value or substance: vain regrets; empty pleasures; hollow threats; idle dreams; nugatory commentaries; an otiose belief in alchemy. See also synonyms at futile.
v
n
- in Appendix I.
ly —ADVERB
