VA'INLY, adverb 1. Without effect; to no purpose; ineffectually; in vain. In weak complaints you vainly waste your breath. 2. Boastingly; with vaunting; proudly; arrogantly. Humility teaches us not to think vainly nor vauntingly of ourselves. 3. Idly; foolishly. Nor vainly hope to be invulnerable.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI