vain

«vain» in Mova's school dictionary: Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

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 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

• 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.