different between vanity vs vain
vanity
English
Etymology
va(i)n +? -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin v?nitas, from v?nus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?væ.n?.ti/
Noun
vanity (countable and uncountable, plural vanities)
- That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
- Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance or achievements.
- A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair. The table is normally quite low and similar to a desk, with drawers and one or more mirrors on top. Either a chair or bench is used to sit upon.
- A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture.
- Emptiness. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- (obsolete) Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.
- It is a vanity to say that if two stones are dropped from a tower, the heavier will experience the greater acceleration.
Synonyms
- conceit
- egotism
- narcissism
- pride
- See also Thesaurus:arrogance
Derived terms
- vanity case
- vanity item
Related terms
- vain
Translations
Further reading
- vanity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- vanity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
vanity 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:
- what vain means
- what vainglory mean
- what vein carries oxygenated blood
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- what vein carries deoxygenated blood
- what vein drains the brain
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