a. and sb. 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, feyno, 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. Daus, trans. 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.
1803. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xiii. 103. It was vain for him to attempt any explanation.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. II. xiv. (1866), 178. In vain regrets for the past, in vainer resolves for the future.
1872. Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 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, trans. 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 withynne 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), 368. Outwardly shewing a great pretence of holiness, and being vain of true godliness inwardly.
[1822. Shelley, trans. 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. trans. 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. Shaks., 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 £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, trans. 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, trans. 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. 117, ¶ 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. Cursor 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. Shaks., 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 sb. 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. trans. 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, -boasting, -conceited, -headed, -hearted, -proud, -spent, -talking adjs.; vain-speaker, -struggling.
1549. Latimer, 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 78. There be some sclaunderouse people, vaynespeakers,… whych I must nedes speake agaynst.
1562. Phaër, 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.
