Vanity

5 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vanity \Van"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Vanities}. [OE. vanite, F.
     vanit['e], L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See {Vain}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The quality or state of being vain; want of substance to
        satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness;
        falsity.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of
              vanities; all is vanity.              --Eccl. i. 2.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Here I may well show the vanity of that which is
              reported in the story of Walsingham.  --Sir J.
                                                    Davies.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The exquisitely sensitive vanity of Garrick was
              galled.                               --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher. --Eccl. i.
                                                    2.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the
              certainty of things to come.          --Sir P.
                                                    Sidney.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              [Sin] with vanity had filled the works of men.
                                                    --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Think not, when woman's transient breath is fled,
              That all her vanities at once are dead;
              Succeeding vanities she still regards. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. One of the established characters in the old moralities
        and puppet shows. See {Morality}, n., 5.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              You . . . take vanity the puppet's part. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. same as {dressing table}.
        [PJC]
  
     6. A cabinet built around a bathroom sink, usually with a
        countertop and sometimes drawers.
        [PJC]
  
     Syn: Egotism; pride; emptiness; worthlessness;
          self-sufficiency. See {Egotism}, and {Pride}.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dressing table \Dressing table\, n.
     a table, usually having a vertical back piece containing a
     mirror, at which a person may sit while dressing or applying
     makeup, and on which articles for the toilet stand. It often
     has drawers for toiletries, clothing, or accessories. It is
     also called a {vanity} or {vanity table}.
     [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vanity
       n 1: feelings of excessive pride [syn: {amour propre}, {conceit},
             {self-love}]
       2: the quality of being valueless or futile; "he rejected the
          vanities of the world" [syn: {emptiness}]
       3: the trait of being vain and conceited [syn: {conceit}]
       4: low table with mirror or mirrors where one sits while
          dressing or applying makeup [syn: {dressing table}, {dresser},
           {toilet table}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  104 Moby Thesaurus words for "vanity":
     absurdity, aimlessness, amour propre, arrogance, autotheism,
     big deal, bluster, boast, boastfulness, boasting, bombast,
     bootlessness, brag, braggadocio, braggartism, bragging, bravado,
     cockiness, conceit, conceitedness, egotism, emptiness, face,
     fanfaronade, fatuity, fecklessness, flimsiness, folly, foolishness,
     frivolity, frivolousness, fruitlessness, futility, gasconade,
     gasconism, haughtiness, heroics, hollowness, idleness, impotence,
     inanity, independence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, inefficacy,
     jactation, jactitation, levity, lightness, meaninglessness,
     narcissism, nugacity, otiosity, pardonable pride, pointlessness,
     pride, pridefulness, profitlessness, proudness, purposelessness,
     purse-pride, rat race, rodomontade, self-admiration, self-conceit,
     self-confidence, self-consequence, self-esteem, self-importance,
     self-love, self-reliance, self-respect, self-sufficiency,
     self-worship, shallowness, side, silliness, slenderness,
     slightness, stiff-necked pride, stiff-neckedness, superficiality,
     swagger, the absurd, triflingness, triteness, triviality,
     trivialness, unproductiveness, unprofitability, unprofitableness,
     unreality, uselessness, vacuity, vacuousness, vainglory, vainness,
     valuelessness, vapidity, vaunt, vauntery, vaunting, vicious circle,
     worthlessness
  
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  VANITY, n.  The tribute of a fool to the worth of the nearest ass.
  
      They say that hens do cackle loudest when
          There's nothing vital in the eggs they've laid;
          And there are hens, professing to have made
      A study of mankind, who say that men
      Whose business 'tis to drive the tongue or pen
          Make the most clamorous fanfaronade
          O'er their most worthless work; and I'm afraid
      They're not entirely different from the hen.
      Lo! the drum-major in his coat of gold,
          His blazing breeches and high-towering cap --
      Imperiously pompous, grandly bold,
          Grim, resolute, an awe-inspiring chap!
      Who'd think this gorgeous creature's only virtue
      Is that in battle he will never hurt you?
                                                       Hannibal Hunsiker