vain
part of speech
adjective (vain, vainer, vainest); phrase «in vain»
meaning for a pupil
1) Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have. tree →
2) Useless; not succeeding: a vain attempt. tree →
3) «In vain» means without success. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: "In vain" means for a false or empty purpose. The Torah uses it for taking God's name falsely or for effort with no result. Interpretation: The commandment not to take God's name "in vain" is read as forbidding false oaths and also using God's name carelessly or for no good reason. In the primary lessons: In stories and fables, a vain character (a vain peacock or crow) is often tricked because of pride. «In vain» tells the reader that trying did not work. Phrases: «in vain», «a vain hope», «vain as a peacock».
examples
- And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield her produce, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. (Torah LEV.26.20, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. (Torah EXO.20.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing ye shall prolong your days upon the land, whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.' (Torah DEU.32.47, JPS 1917) tree →
- How then comfort ye me in vain? (Writings JOB.21.34, JPS 1917) tree →
- And why do the peoples mutter in vain? (Writings PSA.2.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain? (Writings JOB.9.29, JPS 1917) tree →
- The vain crow dropped the cheese when the fox praised her singing. tree →
- He is so vain he checks his hair in every window. tree →
- They searched in vain for the lost ring. tree →
- It was a vain attempt to catch the bus. tree →
- Don't be vain about winning; be kind. tree →
- She waited in vain for a reply. tree →
- The goose hunted everywhere, but in vain. tree →
note
Homophones: vain, vein (a tube for blood), vane (a weather vane). Noun: vanity. «Vainly» = without success. Opposite of the first sense: modest.
In the corpora
- For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I called her arrogancy that sitteth still.
- I said: It is but vain words; for counsel and strength are for the war.
- In vain have I smitten your children — they received no correction; your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
- Truly vain have proved the hills, the uproar on the mountains; truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
- In vain dost thou make thyself fair; thy lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «vain» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.