▪ I. vain, a. and n.
(veɪn)
Forms: α. 4–5 vayn (4, 5–6 Sc., wayn), 4–6 vayne (5–6 wayne), 4–7 vaine (5 Sc. waine), 4, 6– vain (4 wain). β. 4 vein, veen, 5 veine; 4–5 veyn (4 ueyn, 5 weyn), veyne (5 veyyne, feyne, Sc. weyne). γ. 4 wan, 5, 6 Sc., wane, 5–6 Sc. vane (6 uane).
[a. OF. vein, veyn, vain (F. vain):—L. vānus empty, void, idle, etc. (whence also It. and Sp. vano, Pg. vão).]
I. 1. Devoid of real value, worth, or significance; idle, unprofitable, useless, worthless; of no effect, force, or power; fruitless, futile, unavailing.
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 28332 Quen idel thoght me come and vain, Wit will i stode þam noght again. c 1340 Hampole Prose Tr. 3 Na thynge..sa..dos awaye coryous and vayne ocupacyons fra vs. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 135 Witeþ al..men þat the power of kynges is vayne. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 64 To put away all maner worldes vanyte, and vayn murthe, and reuell. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i. v, For the loue of a vayn thynge men ought not to leue that whiche is certeyn. 1529 Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.) 23 Such wayne, vngodly, and vnprofitable lerninge. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 102 b, Many woulde judge that promesse to be vayne. 1614 Raleigh Hist. World ii. (1634) 372 After which victorie it is said that Jephta performed the vaine vow which he made. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ ii. iii. §6 Certainly God..will never alter the course of nature, meerly for satisfaction of mens vain curiosities. 1713 Steele Englishm. No. 7, Without a natural Talent, all the Acquirements of Learning are vain. 1759 Franklin Ess. Wks. 1840 III. 525 The remainder of that day..was wasted in a vain discussion. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xiii. 103 It was vain for him to attempt any explanation. a 1853 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. xiv. (1866) 178 In vain regrets for the past, in vainer resolves for the future. 1872 Ruskin Eagle's Nest §177 All literature, art, and science are vain, and worse, if they do not enable you to be glad. |
| β 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 5350 Y rede þou ȝelde hyt aȝen, Þy saluacyun ys elles alle veyn. 1390 Gower Conf. Prol. I. 11 The vein honour was noght desired, Which hath the proude herte fyred. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 1291 Thanne me sempte yt was but veyn, Mor for me to speke ageyn. a 1450 Mankind 846 in Macro Plays 32 Beware of weyn confidens of mercy. c 1500 Lancelot 382 Dremys..ben thingis weyn, of non affek. |
| γ a 1450 Mankind 533 in Macro Plays 20 He xall wene grace were wane. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xii. 39 Wirk for the joy that lestis evir; For vder joy is all bot vane. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 105 That rathir thay appeir nocht to be spokne of a vane ostentatione, than of the veritie. |
† b. Of material things: Useless, worthless.
Obs.| 1578 Lyte Dodoens 384 Cyclaminus altera hath an unprofitable and vaine roote. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. ii. 48 Most wretched men, whose dayes depend on thrids so vaine. 1769 Sir W. Jones Palace Fortune Poems (1777) 20 His spear, vain instrument of dying praise. |
c. Trivial, unimportant.
rare—1.
| 1731 Pope Ep. Burlington 29 Imitating-Fools, Who..Load some vain Church with old Theatric state, Turn Arcs of triumph to a Garden-gate. |
† 2. Empty, vacant, void. Also
const. of.
Obs.| 1382 Wyclif Gen. i. 2 The erthe forsothe was veyn with⁓ynne and void. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) iv. xxix. (1859) 62 Alle folke the alouteth and abeyeth, and thou arte veyne, and voyde of al maner of vertue. 1513 Douglas æneid i. Prol. 19 With dull forhede and wane, With ruide engine and barrand emptive brane. 1544 Exhort. in Priv. Prayers (1851) 568 Outwardly shewing a great pretence of holiness, and being vain of true godliness inwardly. [1822 Shelley tr. Calderon's Mag. Prodig. iii. 166 Such melancholy..is Skilful in forming such in the vain air Out of the motes and atoms of the day.] |
3. Of persons: Devoid of sense or wisdom; foolish, silly, thoughtless; of an idle or futile nature or disposition. Now
rare or
Obs.| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 217 Wherof he wax so proud and vein, That he his fader in desdeign Hath take. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4384 At Vaxor þe vayn pepull voidly honourit Bachian. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. vii. 8 He is veyne þat puttiþ his hope in men or in creatures. 1535 Coverdale James ii. 20 Wilt thou vnderstonde o thou vayne man that faith with out dedes is deed? 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 106 Diuerse vaine persons bruted dayly among the Commons of the realme, that Christ had twise apered vnto him. 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. iii. ii. 185 This I thinke, there's no man is so vaine, That would refuse so faire an offer'd Chaine. a 1631 Donne Poems, Woman's Constancy, Vaine lunatique, against these scapes I could Dispute, and conquer, if I would. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xx. (1687) 210 If it..would make you a medler in other mens matters (as most of our vain Believers are). 1784 Cowper Tiroc. 754 [Art not] thou at best, and in thy sob'rest mood, A trifler vain? 1812 J. Wilson Isle of Palms i. 587 Hush! hush! thou vain dreamer! this hour is her last. 1819 Shelley Cenci v. iii. 36 So that our hair should sweep The footsteps of the vain and senseless crowd. |
| absol. c 1450 [see 7 a]. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 590 Is sparkling wit.. The fixt fee-simple of the vain and light? 1817 Shelley Rev. Islam ix. xiv, The peace of slavery, With which old times..had quelled the vain and free. |
4. Given to or indulging in personal vanity; having an excessively high opinion of one's own appearance, attainments, qualities, possessions, etc.; delighting in, or desirous of attracting, the admiration of others; conceited. Also
absol.| 1692 Dryden Eleonora 101 For to be conscious of what all admire, And not be vain, advances vertue high'r. 1703 Evelyn Diary Feb., She..I believe carried with her out of this vain nation above {pstlg}1000. 1762–71 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) III. 56 Perceiving the poor man to be immoderately vain, he piqued him to attempt portraits. 1832 Lytton Eugene A. i. x, It might teach the vainest to forswear vanity. 1857 Buckle Civiliz. I. x. 609 The vain man, restless, insatiable, and always craving after the admiration of his contemporaries. 1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 18 The heart of the vain man is lighter than the heart of the proud. |
| transf. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 366 The vainest corner of our own vain heart. |
b. Const.
of.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. Pref., We deserve more compassion, because we are not vain of our Barbarities. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones i. viii, A good, honest, plain girl, and not vain of her face. 1829 Lytton Devereux i. i, Between you and me, he was not a little vain of his leg. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxiv, The General..sate down to pen a poulet (he was exceedingly vain of his French) to Mademoiselle Aménaide. |
II. 5. In the
advb. phrase
in vain, to no effect or purpose; ineffectually, uselessly, vainly.
After L.
in vanum, or
OF. en vein (F.
en vain,
= It. in vano,
Sp. en vano,
Pg. em vão).
| α a 1300 Cursor M. 16172 Of him he wend ha signes sene, For noght, al was in vain. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xx. 1 That..he spend noght his preciouse blode in vayn on vs. 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 48 Bot þat trawaill þai maid in wayne. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 198 Thar Prayer was not in wayne. c 1470 Henry Wallace ii. 151 The more thai bad, the mor it was in wayne. 1535 Coverdale Job ii. 3 Yet is it in vayne, for he contynueth still in his godlynesse. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. i. xvii. 20 All was in vain, for there was no remedy but to obey. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xviii. 89 It is therefore in vain to grant Soveraignty by way of precedent Covenant. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 394 Nor Bits nor Bridles can his Rage restrain; And rugged Rocks are interpos'd in vain. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 1 ¶7 The secret Satisfaction of thinking that I have not Lived in vain. 1752 Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 157 In vain do you seek repose from beds of roses. 1836 W. Irving Astoria II. 227 Here he endeavoured in vain to barter a rifle for a horse. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 623 He wrote piteous letters to the king and to several courtiers, but in vain. 1864 Bryce Holy Rom. Emp. vi. (1875) 76 Lewis tried in vain to satisfy his sons..by dividing and redividing. |
| β 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 10252 Alle here trauayle þey do yn veyn. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1359 Dido, For wel I wot that it is al in veyn. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 4173 He..sayde, ‘nowe haue y trauellede twey [= twice] in feyne’. c 1430 Lydg. Minor Poems (Percy Soc.) 65 Ye schal nat labour al in veyne, Ye shul have hevene. c 1500 Lancelot 524 The king..al this resone thinkith bot in weyne. |
| γ a 1300 Cursur M. 19411 (Edinb.), Al þaire striue was bot in wan. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ii. (Paul) 518 Ȝet wald nocht god his prayer war in wane. c 1480 Henryson Orpheus & Eurydice Wks. (S.T.S.) III. 37 Him to reios ȝit playit he a spryng,..Bot all in wane, þai comfort him no thing. 1483 Cath. Angl. 197/1 In vane, frustra. 1533 Gau Richt Vay 13 Thay that sweris in uane and thay that sweris ony fals aith. 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xxxix. 140 For lake of lederis thair thay wrocht in uane. a 1600 Montgomerie Misc. Poems xviii. 37 Vhen they sau they wroght in vane. |
† b. So
for vain.
Obs.—1| 1603 Shakes. Meas. for M. ii. iv. 12 My Grauitie Wherein..I take pride, Could I, with boote, change for an idle plume, Which the ayre beats for vaine. |
6. to take..in vain:
† a. To disregard, to treat with
contempt. Obs.| 13.. Coer de L. 3769 Kyng Phelyp took theroff non hede, But layde thertoo a deff ear... Kyng Richardys words he took in vain. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 16271 Osewy tok þy somons in veyn, To come to court he hadde disdeyn. |
b. With
name as object. To use or utter (the name of God) lightly, needlessly, or profanely;
transf. to mention or speak of casually or idly.
A literal rendering of
assumere (
nomen Dei)
in vanum in the Vulgate text of
Exod. xx. 7.
| 13.. Cursor M. 25228 Len vs lord swilk mode and mayn Þat we tak neuer þi name in vayn. 1382 Wyclif Exod. xx. 7 Thow shalt not tak the name of the Lord thi God in veyn. c 1450 Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.) 41 The secunde thow shalle noght in vayne thi lord god name take. 1564 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 298 To sweir and tak his name in vane. 1630 W. T. Justific. Relig. now Professed iii. 22 His name is taken in vaine. 1731–8 Swift Polite Conv. 99 Who's that takes my Name in vain? 1860 Tennyson Sea Dreams 185 Who, never naming God except for gain, So never took that useful name in vain. 1884 Rider Haggard Dawn ii, I always call Chancery ‘it’. I wouldn't take its name in vain for worlds. |
† 7. As
n. a. Vanity; a vain thing.
Obs.| c 1330 King of Tars 71, I schal him seende such wordes to seyn, That al his thought schal torne to veyn. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione i. xx. 26 Leeue veyn [L. vana] to þe veyn, & take þou hede to þo þinges þat god comaundiþ þe. 1606 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Magnificence 1208 All the World proclaiming Vain of Vains, Man's happinesse in God's true Fear maintains. 1628 Feltham Resolves i. lii. Wks. (1677) 84 The power of the Gospel, in crying down the vains of men. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iii. 267 The fruits of dying friends survey; Expose the vain of life; weigh life and death. |
† b. Emptiness, void space.
Obs.| 1382 Wyclif Job xxvi. 7 He that streccheth out the north vp on vein [L. super vacuum], and hangeth vp the erthe vp on noȝt. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. 105 Wythouten vayne he dyd all thyng fulfyll As astronomy doth make apparaunce. |
8. In misc. adjectival or adverbial combs. or
attrib. uses, as
vain-averted,
vain-boasting,
vain-conceited,
vain-headed,
vain-hearted,
vain-proud,
vain-spent,
vain-talking,
adjs.;
vain-speaker,
vain-struggling.
| 1549 Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 78 There be some sclaunderouse people, vaynespeakers,..whych I must nedes speake agaynst. 1562 T. Phaer æneid ix. B b iij, And furst Eurialus he seeth..Vainstruggling working much. 1562 Winȝet Wks. (S.T.S.) II. 28 Wanetalkand men and dissauearis, quha peruertis hail houssis. 1590 Marlowe's Tamburl. To Rdr., Though (happly) they haue bene of some vaine conceited fondlings greatly gaped at. 1603 Breton Dialogue of Pithe Wks. (Grosart) II. 17/1 If you will be vaine-headed, God helpe you, for I cannot. a 1618 Sylvester Paradox agst. Liberty 667 Wks. (Grosart) II. 61 The..vain-proud state and port, That for the grace of Kings adorns the Courtly sort. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. viii. xxii, A vagrant rout..Strow him with vain-spent prayers, and idle layes. 1848 Buckley Iliad 291 O babbling and vain-boasting Ajax, what hast thou said? 1858 H. Bushnell New Life vi. (1861) 79 He drove Lot's family, or his vain-hearted wife, out of the city. 1871 H. King Ovid's Metam. vii. 523 Struggling with vain-averted eyes to shun The noontide beams. |
Hence
† vain v. trans., to frustrate.
Obs.—1| 1628 Feltham Resolves ii. xii. 34 Euery good man..must be wise and circumspect, to vaine the sleeke nauations of those that would undoe him. |
▪ II. vain obs. f. vein n.; southern
ME. var. fain a.
and adv.