Vainly

adv. Forms: α. 4, 6 vaynly, 6–7 vainlie, 7 vaine-, 6– vainly. β. 5 veynli, -(e)ly, veinly. γ. 6 Sc. vanelie. [f. VAIN a. + -LY².]

  1.  In a vain or futile manner; without advantage, profit, or success; to no effect or purpose; in vain; uselessly, fruitlessly, ineffectually.

1382.  Wyclif, James iv. 5. Wher weenen ȝe, that veynly [L. inaniter] the scripture seith [etc.].

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 195. I folwer of evel craft … trowed vaynly for to be defended and helped by ȝoure prayers.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. li. 123. Ner he shal not ioy veinly, if he be resonably excused by oþer.

1509.  Fisher, Funeral Serm. C’tess Richmond, Wks. (1876), 293. This noble prynces,… whome my purpose is not vaynly to extol … aboue her merytes, but to the edefyenge of other.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VI. (1550), 23. Vitayll … not wantonly consumed, nor vainly spent.

1607.  Shaks., Timon, V. iv. 8. Till now, my selfe and such As slept within the shadow of your power Haue … breath’d Our sufferance vainly.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 811. I forewarn thee, shun His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope To be invulnerable.

1695.  Ld. Preston, Boeth., I. 12. Every one going away with that Rag which he had snatch’d, vainly believ’d that he had possess’d himself of Philosophy.

1743.  Francis, trans. Hor., Odes, I. xiv. 13. What though majestic in your pride you stood…, You now may vainly boast an empty name.

1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xxix. (1787), III. 110. Perhaps he vainly imagined, that he laboured for the interest of an only daughter.

1808.  Scott, Marm., I. xii. There, vainly Ralph de Wilton strove ’Gainst Marmion’s force to stand.

1858.  Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 31. In the caprices of passion and humour we look vainly for any guiding principle.

1870.  Bryant, Iliad, III. I. 98. From my hand The spear was vainly flung and gave no wound.

  Comb.  1648.  J. Beaumont, Psyche, XVI. xxviii. He … Beyond my vainly-panting reach is plac’d.

  † 2.  Foolishly, senselessly, thoughtlessly. Obs.

1588.  Durham Depos. (Surtees), 330. She spoke somwhat idlie and vainlie, by reason of the extremitie of her sickness.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 101. Nathir haue thay nochtwithstandeng now vanelie fallin frome the faith of the Catholik Kirk.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xi. 346. Ethelbald,… though most vainly given when he was hot and young, Yet, by the wise reproofe of godly Bishops brought From those unstay’d delights by which his youth was caught.

1647.  Cowley, Mistr., Vain Love, 46. What Lover can like me complain, Who first lov’d vainly, next in vain!

1730.  Bailey (fol.), Inaniloquent, talking or babbling vainly.

  3.  With personal vanity; conceitedly.

1602.  Ld. Cromwell, IV. i. 35. ’Tis greater glorie for me, That you remember it, then of myselfe Vainlie to report it.

1650.  Hobbes, De Corpore Politico, 3. How some are vainly Glorious, and hope for precedencie and superiority above their Fellows.

1692.  E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., xi. When with too much pleasure you admire Your Horse’s Worth, and vainly boast his Sire.

1779.  Cowper, Human Frailty, 20. A stranger to superior strength, Man vainly trusts his own.