vain
/veɪn/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.74 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.
adj
Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
adj
noun
Example Sentences
- "Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed."
- "I will not hear thy vain excuse"
- "Let no man deceive you with vain words."
- "Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy."
- "vain toil a vain attempt"
- "Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain."
Etymology
From Middle English veyn, from Old French vain, from Latin vānus (“empty”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /veɪn/
- British English: /veɪn/
Usage
Inflected Forms
vainer (comparative)
more vain (comparative)
vainest (superlative)
most vain (superlative)
wayn (alternative, obsolete)
vains (present, singular)
vaining (participle, present)
vained (participle, past)
vained (past)
VAINs (plural)