Vain
Vain (vān) , adjective
[French vain, Latin vanus empty, void, vain. Compare Vanish, Vanity, Vaunt to boast.]
1.
Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
Thy vain excuse.
Every man walketh in a vain show.
Let no man deceive you with vain words.
Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye!
Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.
2.
Destitute of force or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt.
Bring no more vain oblations.
Vain is the force of man
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
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?
The minstrels played on every side,
Vain of their art.
4.
Showy; ostentatious.
Load some vain church with old theatric state.
Vain , noun
Vanity; emptiness; -- now used only in the phrase in vain.
Collocations (3)
For vain , See In vain. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
In vain , to no purpose; without effect; ineffectually. In vain doth valor bleed. In vain they do worship me.
To take the name of God in vain , to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.