Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VAIN, a. [Fr. vain; It. vano; L. vanus; Gaelic, fann, weak; faon, void; W. gwan; Sans. vana; probably allied to Eng. wan, wane, want.]

1. Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1 Pet. i. To your vain answer will you have recourse. Blackmore. Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. xxxix. Why do the people imagine a vain thing? Ps. ii.
2. Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain. Vain is the force of man. – Dryden.
3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited. The minstrels play'd on every side, / Vain of their art. – Dryden.
4. Empty; unreal; as, a vain chimera.
5. Showy; ostentatious. Load some vain church with old theatric state. – Pope.
6. Light; inconstant; worthless. Prov. xii.
7. Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain.
8. False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James i.
9. Not effectual; having no efficacy. Bring no more vain oblations. Is. i. In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual. In vain they do worship me. Matth. xv. To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.