VAIN, adjective [Latin vanus; Eng. wan, wane, want.] 1. Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1 Peter 1:18. To your vain answer will you have recourse. Every man walketh in a vain show. Psalms 39:6. Why do the people imagine a vain thing? Psalms 2:1. 2. Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain VAIN is the force of man. 3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited. The minstrels play'd on every side, vain of their art - 4. Empty; unreal; as a vain chimers. 5. Showy; ostentatious. Load some vain church with old theatric state. 6. Light; inconstant; worthless. Proverbs 12:11. 7. Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain 8. False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1:26. 9. Not effectual; having no efficacy Bring no more vain oblations. Isaiah 1:13. In vain to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual. In vain they do worship me. Matthew 15:9. To take the name of God in vain to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI