Adjective: vain
Comparison Forms
Synthetic
| Comparative | vainer |
| Superlative | vainest |
Perifrastic
| Comparative | more vain |
| Superlative | most vain |
Sample Sentences
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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:]
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I will not hear thy vain excuse [c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:]
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Let no man deceive you with vain words. [1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ephesians 5:6:]
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Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy. [1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:]
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vain toil a vain attempt
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Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. [1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:]
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At our old pastimes in the hall
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We gambol’d, making vain pretence
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Of gladness, with an awful sense
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Of one mute Shadow watching all. [1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXX”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 48:]
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But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion. [1921, Ben Travers, chapter 6, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:]
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Yet ſhall (my Lord) your juſt, your noble Rules / Fill half the land with imitating Fools: / VVho random dravvings from your ſheets ſhall take, / And of one beauty many blunders make; / Load ſome vain Church with old Theatric State, / Turn Arcs of Triumph to a Garden-gate, […] [1735, Alexander Pope, “Epistle 4”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume II, London: […] J. Wright, for Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC, page 40, lines 25–30:]
Adjectives inflected like vain
wholsom,
seldom,
scared,
solemn,
silent,
beloved,
uptight,
perfect,
useless,
up-tight,
selfish,
distinct,
discreet,
Dutch,
reckless,
bumfuck,
worthless,
slender,
faithfull,
shallow, etc. (List truncated at 20 adjectives)
Etymology
From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”). See: Latin Adjectives '
vānus'.