vanity, van1te, vanitie, vanytee

[Fr. van ité, from Lat. vanitatem, acc us. of vanitas =emptine , worthle ne , from van us = empty, vain (q. v.).] 1. The quality or state of being empty, vain, or worthle ; worthle ne , futility, emptine , unsubstantiality, unreality, unreal ne , illusion. "Vanity of vanity , saith the Preacher, all is vanity ." Eccles. i. 2. *2. Groundle ne , falsene ; want of grounds or foundation. 3. The quality or state of being vain or elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments or achievements, or with things more showy than valuable; empty pride inspired by an an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decor a tions, and causing its po e or to be morbidly anxious for the notice, admiration, and applause of others; conceit. [PRIDE, 1.] " Vanity is that species of pride, which, while it presumes upon a degree of superiority in some particular articles, fondly courts the applause of every one within its sphere of action, seeking every occasion to display some talent or some supposed excellence."-Cogan: On the Pa ions . 4. Ostentation; ambitious or ostentatious display; vainglory, vaunting, pride, conceit. "The ground-work thereof is true, however they, through vanity , whilst they would not seem to be ignorant, do thereupon build many forged histories of their own antiquity." - Spenser : State of Ireland. 5. That which is vain, empty, unreal, or unsubstantial; as (1) Empty pleasure, vain pursuit, idle show, unreality. "All their exhortations were to set light of the things in this world, to count riches and honors vanitie." Hooker: Eccles. Pol., Pref., § 8. (2) Fruitle desire or endeavor; effort which produces no result. *(3) An empty or vain conceit; a trifle. "Some vanity of mine art."- Shakesp .: Tempest , iv. *(4) Script .: An idol (Jer. xviii. 15). In this sense it is generally used in the plural. "Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain, or can the heavens give showers. Art thou not he, O Lord, our God?"-Jer. xiv. 22. (Cf. also Deut. xxxii. 21; 1 Kings xvi. 13, 26; Jer. viii. 19.) *6. A character in the old moralities. "You Lear , ii. 2. take vanity the puppet's part." -Shakesp.: Vanity Fair, subst . A fair described by Bunyan ( Pilgrim's Progre , pt.i.) as established by Beelzebub, A polly on, and Legion, for the sale of all sorts of vanities. (Used to symbolize a collection of the most alluring temptations of the world.) *văn'-müre, s . [VAUNTMURE.] ( Eng . )