VAINLY

vainly, in vain

(adverb) to no avail; “he looked for her in vain”; “the city fathers tried vainly to find a solution”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adverb

vainly (comparative more vainly, superlative most vainly)

In a vain pursuit; to no avail; She searched vainly for her reflection in the shattered mirror.

With a vain attitude; in a self-approving manner; She stared vainly at her reflection in the mirror.

Synonyms

• in vain

Anagrams

• vilany

Source: Wiktionary

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Vain"ly, adv.

Definition: In a vain manner; in vain.

VAIN

Vain, a. [Compar. Vainer; superl. Vainest.] Etym: [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. Vanish, Vanity, Vaunt to boast.]

1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. "Thy vain excuse." Shak. Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. xxxix. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v. 6. Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak. Vain visdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.

2. Destitute of forge or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt. Bring no more vain oblations. Isa. i. 13. Vain is the force of man To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden.

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 James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.). The minstrels played on every side, Vain of their art. Dryden.

4. Showy; ostentatious. Load some vain church with old theatric state. Pope.

Syn.

– Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal; shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant; deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling.

Vain, n.

Definition: 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. 9.

– 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

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