vain
/veɪn/adjective
1
- having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth自负的, 自视过高的, 爱虚荣的：
their flattery made him vain.
他们的吹捧使他自命不凡。
2
- attrib. producing no result; useless无结果的, 无效的：
a vain attempt to tidy up the room
徒劳的整理房间
the vain hope of finding work.
找到工作的落空希望。
2.1
- having no meaning or likelihood of fulfilment徒劳的, 无意义的：
a vain boast.
徒劳的自夸。
短语
in vain
- without success or a result徒劳地：
they waited in vain for a response.
他们白等回音。
take someone's name in vain
- use someone's name in a way that shows a lack of respect滥用某人的名义; 轻慢谈到某人的名字。
派生词
vainly
adverb词源
Middle English （in the sense 'devoid of real worth'）： via Old French from Latin vanus 'empty, without substance'.