Van"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Vanities (#). [OE. vanite, vanité,
L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]
1. The quality or state of being vain; want of
substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness;
falsity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity
of vanities; all is vanity.
Eccl. i. 2.
Here I may well show the vanity of that which is
reported in the story of Walsingham.
Sir J. Davies.
2. An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty
pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or
decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride;
ostentation; conceit.
The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was
galled.
Macaulay.
3. That which is vain; anything empty, visionary,
unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor
productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show;
unsubstantial enjoyment.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher.
Eccl. i. 2.
Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the
certainty of things to come.
Sir P. Sidney.
[Sin] with vanity had filled the works of
men.
Milton.
Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled,
That all her vanities at once are dead;
Succeeding vanities she still regards.
Pope.
4. One of the established characters in the old
moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n.,
5.
You . . . take vanity the puppet's part.
Shak.
Syn. -- Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness; self-
sufficiency. See Egotism, and Pride.
Van"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Vanities (#). [OE. vanite, vanité,
L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]
1. The quality or state of being vain; want of
substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness;
falsity.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity
of vanities; all is vanity.
Eccl. i. 2.
Here I may well show the vanity of that which is
reported in the story of Walsingham.
Sir J. Davies.
2. An inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty
pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or
decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride;
ostentation; conceit.
The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was
galled.
Macaulay.
3. That which is vain; anything empty, visionary,
unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor
productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show;
unsubstantial enjoyment.
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher.
Eccl. i. 2.
Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the
certainty of things to come.
Sir P. Sidney.
[Sin] with vanity had filled the works of
men.
Milton.
Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled,
That all her vanities at once are dead;
Succeeding vanities she still regards.
Pope.
4. One of the established characters in the old
moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n.,
5.
You . . . take vanity the puppet's part.
Shak.
Syn. -- Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness; self-
sufficiency. See Egotism, and Pride.
