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aving no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. "Thy vain excuse." Shak. Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. xxxix. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v. 6. Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak. Vain visdom all, and false philosophy. Milton.…

Feeling or indicating vainglory; elated by vanity; boastful. "Arrogant and vainglorious expression." Sir M. Hale. -- Vain`glo"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Vain`glo"ri*ous*ness, n.

Excessive vanity excited by one's own performances; empty pride; undue elation of mind; vain show; boastfulness. He had nothing of vainglory. Bacon. The man's undone forever; for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he'll break't himself in vainglory. Shak.

In a vain manner; in vain.

The quality or state of being vain.

Prayers offered up for nine successive days.

A substance, C14H22O2NCl, the hydrochloride of an amino compound containing benzol, used, in solution with strychnine, as a local anæsthetic, esp. by injection into the sheath of the spinal cord, producing anæsthesia below the point of introduction.

Any plant of the genus Verbena. Vervain mallow (Bot.), a species of mallow (Malva Alcea) with rose-colored flowers.

To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for. Dearly I abide that boast so vain. Milton.

The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination. "His addiction was to courses vain." Shak.

tious of seeing this ceremony. Evelyn. Studious of song, and yet ambitious not to sing in vain. Cowper.

be obvious or manifest. It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1 John iii. 2. Of their vain contest appeared no end. Milton.

To struggle against in vain; as, a ship baffles with the winds. [R.]

fall with force; to strike anything, as, rain, wind, and waves do. Sees rolling tempests vainly beat below. Dryden. They [winds] beat at the crazy casement. Longfellow. The sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wisbed in himself to die. Jonah iv. 8. Public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon ministers. B…

Nonsense; vain words. B. Jonson.

To inflate; to puff up; to make vain. Dryden.

To display vaingloriously.

Given to, or full of, boasting; inclined to boast; vaunting; vainglorious; self-praising. -- Boast"ful*ly, adv. -- Boast"ful*ness, n.

The act of glorying or vaunting; vainglorious speaking; ostentatious display. When boasting ends, then dignity begins. Young.

Without material form; incorporeal. Phantoms bodiless and vain. Swift.