Adjective

(en-adj)

Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.

* (rfdate) Leo Rosten

Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain ; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.

Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.

* (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)

thy vain excuse

* Bible, (w) v. 6

Let no man deceive you with vain words.

* (John Milton) (1608-1674)

Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.

Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.

* (John Dryden) (1631-1700)

Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.

* (rfdate) William of Occam

It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer.

*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)

, chapter=6, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion.}}

Showy; ostentatious.

* (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)

Load some vain church with old theatric state.

Adjective

(en adjective)

Man-made; of artifice.

* {{quote-magazine, title=A better waterworks, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838

, page=5 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine. But they are nothing like as efficient, and can cause bleeding, clotting and infection—not to mention inconvenience for patients, who typically need to be hooked up to one three times a week for hours at a time.}}

False, misleading.

Unnatural.