Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [veyn]
- /veɪn/
- /veɪn/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [veyn]
- /veɪn/
Definitions of vain word
- adjective vain excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy. 1
- adjective vain proceeding from or showing pride in or concern about one's appearance, qualities, etc.; resulting from or displaying vanity: He made some vain remarks about his accomplishments. 1
- adjective vain ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: vain hopes; a vain effort; a vain war. 1
- adjective vain without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display. 1
- adjective vain Archaic. senseless or foolish. 1
- idioms vain in vain, without effect or avail; to no purpose: lives lost in vain; to apologize in vain. in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of vain
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English < Old French < Latin vānus empty, vain
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Vain
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
vain popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 88% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
vain usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for vain
adj vain
- abortive — An abortive attempt or action is unsuccessful.
- anti-climactic — of, like, pertaining to, or expressing anticlimax.
- anticlimactic — of, having, or like an anticlimax
- arrogant — Someone who is arrogant behaves in a proud, unpleasant way towards other people because they believe that they are more important than others.
- back to the wall — (Idiomatic) (Can we clean up(+) this sense?) A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.
adjective vain
- dandified — greatly concerned with smartness of dress
- dandyish — a man who is excessively concerned about his clothes and appearance; a fop.
- delusive — tending to delude; misleading
- egocentric — Thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings or desires of others ; self-centered.
- egoistic — Egoistical.
Top questions with vain
- what does vain mean?
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- what does it mean to use god's name in vain?
- what is the definition of vain?