Vain

From Fresh Dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Translations 1.3.2 Homophones 1.3.3 Related terms 2 Finnish 2.1 Adverb 3 French 3.1 Adjective 3.1.1 Synonyms 3.2 Related terms

English

Etymology

From Middle English vain < Old French vain < Latin vānus, "empty"

Pronunciation

• IPA: /veɪn/
• AHD: /vān/

Adjective

vain

1. overly proud of oneself, especially when concerning appearance

   Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed. –Leo Rosten

2. having very little substance
3. pointless, futile

   It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer. –William of Occam

Translations

overly proud of one's appearance

Dutch: ijdel Finnish: turhamainen

based on very little substance

pointless, futile

Finnish: turha, tyhjä

Homophones

• vane
• vein

Related terms

• in vain
• vainness
• vainly
• vanity
• shallow

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Finnish

Adverb

vain

1. only, merely, exclusively, solely, just

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French

Adjective

vain

1. useless, ineffective

Synonyms

• inutile

Related terms

• vanité
• vaniteuxfr:vain

io:vain id:vain it:vain hu:vain fi:vain zh:vain