different between demure vs vain
demure
English
Etymology
From Middle English demure, demwre, of uncertain formation, but probably from Old French meur (Modern French mûr) from Latin maturus. The "de-" is "of", as in "of maturity".
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /d??mj??(?)/
- (US) IPA(key): /d??mj??/
- Distinguish from pronunciation of demur
- Rhymes: -??(?)
- Rhymes: -??(?)
Adjective
demure (comparative demurer, superlative demurest)
- (usually of women) Quiet, modest, reserved, sober, or serious.
- She is a demure young lady.
- 1881, William Black, The Beautiful Wretch
- Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes.
- Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
- c. 1824, Mary Russell Mitford, Walks in the Country
- Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head.
- c. 1824, Mary Russell Mitford, Walks in the Country
Derived terms
- as demure as a whore at a christening
- demurely
- demureness
Translations
Verb
demure (third-person singular simple present demures, present participle demuring, simple past and past participle demured)
- (obsolete) To look demurely.
- 1623, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra (act 4, scene 16, line 30)
- Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes […] shall acquire no Honour Demuring upon me.
- 1623, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra (act 4, scene 16, line 30)
demure From the web:
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vain
English
Alternative forms
- wayn (obsolete)
Etymology
From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin v?nus (“empty”).
Pronunciation
- enPR: v?n, IPA(key): /ve?n/
- Homophones: vane, vein
- Rhymes: -e?n
Adjective
vain (comparative vainer or more vain, superlative vainest or most vain)
- Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.
- 1959, Leo Rosten, The return of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N
- Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.
- 1959, Leo Rosten, The return of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N
- Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
- Let no man deceive you with vain words.
- Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.
- Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
- Showy; ostentatious.
Synonyms
- (overly proud of oneself): conceited; puffed up; inflated
- (pointless): pointless, futile, fruitless, ineffectual
- See also Thesaurus:arrogant
- See also Thesaurus:futile
Derived terms
- in vain
- vainness
- vainly
Related terms
- vanity
Translations
Further reading
- vain in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- vain in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
- vain at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams
- Ivan, Na'vi, Vani, Vina, Viña, vina
Dalmatian
Alternative forms
- ven
Etymology
From Latin v?num. Compare Istriot veîn.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?e?/
Noun
vain m
- wine
Finnish
Alternative forms
- vaan (colloquial, all senses; also has other non-colloquial meanings)
Etymology
Probably an old instructive plural of vajaa. Cognate with Estonian vaid.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /???i?n/, [???i?n]
- Rhymes: -?in
- Syllabification: vain
Adverb
vain
- only, merely, exclusively, solely, just
- ever (when used with an interrogative pronoun)
- mikä vain, milloin vain (“whenever”)
- Synonym: tahansa
- An emphatic word used with the negative verb and -kö.
- (with a verb in imperative) go ahead, be my guest
- Synonyms: sen kuin, sen kun
Derived terms
- kuka vain
- mikä vain
Anagrams
- inva-, ivan, niva, vian
French
Etymology
From Old French vain, from Latin v?nus, from Proto-Indo-European *h?weh?- (“empty”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /v??/
- Homophones: vainc, vaincs, vains, vin, vingt, vingts, vins, vint, vînt
Adjective
vain (feminine singular vaine, masculine plural vains, feminine plural vaines)
- useless, ineffective, fruitless
- vain, shallow
Synonyms
- inutile
Derived terms
- en vain
Related terms
- vanité
- vaniteux
Further reading
- “vain” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
Norman
Etymology
From Old French vain, from Latin v?nus (“empty”).
Adjective
vain m
- (Jersey) vain
Derived terms
- vainement (“vainly”)
vain From the web:
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