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.
Hear it pronounced