What does it mean to do something in vain?

Question

I know what BEING vain is, but what does it mean to actually DO something in vain...i.e. love in vain or die in vain

Answer 1

To do somthing in/because of anger.

Answer 2

In Vain Definition

Answer 3

Vain Synonym

Answer 4

Basically it means to waste your time and effort, since the outcome of your actions will not be what you want or desire if anything at all. To love in vain, means without that love being returned. To die in vain, means to have wasted a life, or to end life without having had a cause or reason to do so.

Answer 5

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RE:
What does it mean to do something in vain?
I know what BEING vain is, but what does it mean to actually DO something in vain...i.e. love in vain or die in vain

Answer 6

Doing something "in vain" means that you do something that has the same outcome as if you had not done it. (For example, people say that someone has died in vain if they were fighting to change something and after they died, whatever it was they were fighting for, never changed. Or if you love in vain it may mean that you love someone who has done something wrong and you believe that if you love them enough, they will change. You go on to love that person and they do not change. It can be said you loved them in vain.)

Answer 7

To do something in vain means to do something and not care. You are just doing it just because, and you have no meaning behind it.

Answer 8

It is very different from being vain. It has to do with not getting the intended response. For example, if you love in vain, the other person may not love you in return. If you die in vain, you took a risk which ended in your death without accomplishing what you hoped to accomplish, as in a firefighter who died in vain trying to rescue someone who died anyway.

Answer 9

vain /veɪn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[veyn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation,
–adjective, -er, -est. 1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy.
2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity: vain remarks.
3. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: a vain effort.
4. without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display.
5. Archaic. senseless or foolish.
—Idiom6. in vain, a. without effect or avail; to no purpose: to apologize in vain.
b. in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God's name in vain.

Answer 10

To do something in vain means it was all for naught. For example, when my students earn good grades but skip 25 days and fail my class due to attendance, their good grades were earned in vain.

Answer 11

vain

Pronunciation: 'vAn
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, empty, futile, from Latin vanus -- more at WANE
1 : having no real value : IDLE, WORTHLESS
2 : marked by futility or ineffectualness : UNSUCCESSFUL, USELESS
3 archaic : FOOLISH, SILLY
4 : having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements : CONCEITED
synonym see FUTILE
- vain·ly adverb
- vain·ness /'vAn-n&s/ noun
- in vain
1 : to no end : without success or result
2 : in an irreverent or blasphemous manner
synonyms VAIN, NUGATORY, OTIOSE, IDLE, EMPTY, HOLLOW mean being without worth or significance. VAIN implies either absolute or relative absence of value . NUGATORY suggests triviality or insignificance . OTIOSE suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity . IDLE suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect . EMPTY and HOLLOW suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness .