vain

Definitions

1. 1.Let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v.
2. 2.Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak. Vain visdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.
3. 3.Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt. Bring no more vain oblations. Isa. i.
4. 4.Vain is the force of man To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden.
5. 5.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.
6. 6.Showy; ostentatious. Load some vain church with old theatric state. Pope.
7. 7.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.
8. 8.-- To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "vain" mean?
• What is another word for "vain"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is vain.

• What is let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v called?
• What is vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak. Vain visdom all, and false philosophy. Milton called?
• What is destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt. Bring no more vain oblations. Isa. i called?
• What is vain is the force of man To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden called?
• What is showy; ostentatious. Load some vain church with old theatric state. Pope called?
• What is -- To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness called?