Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Vainly |
VainlyAdverb1. To no avail; "he looked for her in vain"; "the city fathers tried vainly to find a solution". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "vainly" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
Synonym: VainlySynonym: in vain (adv). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Vanity | Adverb: vainly; Adjective: |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Vainly |
| English words defined with "vainly": Chimerically ♦ demoralised, demoralized, discouraged, disheartened ♦ Fangled ♦ in vain ♦ neglecter ♦ Rodomont ♦ Vauntful. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "vainly": Clergyman ♦ Eyeglass ♦ IMMODEST ♦ plokta ♦ Rosalind ♦ tariff. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "vainly": Fangled. (references) |
| Domain | Title |
Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Indonesia | Throughout the 1965-66 period, President Sukarno vainly attempted to restore his political position and shift the country back to its pre-October 1965 position. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer. The Enemy of Human Souls Sat grieving at the cost of coals; For Hell had been annexed of late, And was a sovereign Southern State. "It were no more than right," said he, "That I should get my fuel free. The duty, neither just nor wise, Compels me to economize -- Whereby my broilers, every one, Are execrably underdone. What would they have? -- although I yearn To do them nicely to a turn, I can't afford an honest heat. This tariff makes even devils cheat! I'm ruined, and my humble trade All rascals may at will invade: Beneath my nose the public press Outdoes me in sulphureousness; The bar ingeniously applies To my undoing my own lies; My medicines the doctors use (Albeit vainly) to refuse To me my fair and rightful prey And keep their own in shape to pay; The preachers by example teach What, scorning to perform, I teach; And statesmen, aping me, all make More promises than they can break. Against such competition I Lift up a disregarded cry. Since all ignore my just complaint, By Hokey-Pokey! I'll turn saint!" Now, the Republicans, who all Are saints, began at once to bawl Against his competition; so There was a devil of a go! They locked horns with him, tete-a-tete In acrimonious debate, Till Democrats, forlorn and lone, Had hopes of coming by their own. That evil to avert, in haste The two belligerents embraced; But since 'twere wicked to relax A tittle of the Sacred Tax, 'Twas finally agreed to grant The bold Insurgent-protestant A bounty on each soul that fell Into his ineffectual Hell. Edam Smith |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Vainly" is generally used as an adverb (general) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Vainly" is used about 99 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adverb (general) | 100% | 99 | 32,870 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| Language | Translations for "vainly"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | me mburrje (vauntingly), më kot (in vain). (various references) | |
Arabic | عبثا (in vain), بخيلاء. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | самомнително, напразно (to no purpose), безполезно (worthless). (various references) | |
Chinese | 妄想 (vain attempt, vainly attempt). (various references) | |
Czech | marnì (in vain, to no purpose). (various references) | |
French | vainement (in vain), en vain (in vain). (various references) | |
German | vergeblich (abortive, fruitless, futile, idle, in vain, unavailing, unavailingly, unsuccessful, unsuccessfully, useless, vain). (various references) | |
Hebrew | לשוא (for nothing, in vain, without avail). (various references) | |
Hungarian | hiún, hiába (for nothing, in vain, to no avail, to no effect), hiábavalóan (futilely, unavailingly, uselessly). (various references) | |
Indonesian | dengan sia-sia. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | ainlyvay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | vaidosamente (lordship, proudly), vagamente (vacantly), presumidamente, inutilmente (bootlessly), enfatuadamente, em vão (in vain). (various references) | |
Russian | напрасно (all for nothing, in vain, to no purpose, unduly). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | uzaludno (needlessly). (various references) | |
Spanish | vanidosamente, vanamente (idly), sin éxito, infructuosamente (of no effect), inútilmente (bootlessly, idly, needlessly, pointlessly, uselessly). (various references) | |
Swedish | förgäves (in vain). (various references) | |
Turkish | kibirle, boşuna (empty, for nothing, frantic, gainless, in vain, needless, no dice, no go, no good, of no avail, otiose, to no avail, to no end, unavailing, unnecessarily, useless). (various references) | |
Ukranian | самовдоволено (jauntily), даремно (a-waste, for nothing, idly, uselessly). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | vô ích (bootless, excrescent, futile, inutile, naught, needless, unavailing, unhelpful, unnecessary, unrequired, unwanted, useless), tự đắc (consequential, perky, proud-hearted, proud-spirited, pround-stomached), không hiệu quả hão, hão huyền tự phụ. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | inefficaciter. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Colossians Chapter 2, Verse 18 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | MhdeiV umaV katabrabeuetw qelwn en tapeinofrosunh kai qrhskeia twn aggelwn a mh ewraken embateuwn eikh fusioumenoV upo tou nooV thV sarkoV autou |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Nemo vos seducat volens in humilitate et religione angelorum quae non vidit ambulans frustra inflatus sensu carnis suae |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | No man disseyue you, willynge to teche in mekenesse, and religioun of aungelis, tho thingis whiche he hath not seyn, walkinge veynli, bolnyd with wit of his fleisch, |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | Let no man make you shote at a wroge (marke) which after his awne ymaginacion walketh in the humblenes and holynes of angels thinges which he never sawe: causlesse puft vp with his flesshly mynde |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | Let no man take your reward from you by consciously making little of himself and giving worship to angels; having his thoughts fixed on the things which he has seen, being foolishly lifted up in his natural mind, |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Colossians Chapter 2, Verse 18 |
| Bulgarian | защото умряхте, и животът ви е скрит с Христа в Бога. |
| Cebuano | Ayaw tugoti nga adunay manikas kaninyo pinaagi sa iyang kinabobut-ong pagpulopahiubos ug pagsimbag mga manulonda, sa pagbarug niya diha sa iyang mga panan-awon, nga sa walay katarungan nagapasigarbo tungod sa iyang unodnon nga mga panghunahuna. |
| Chinese | 不 可 " 人 著 故 意 謙 虛 、 ' 敬 拜 天 使 、 就 奪 去 們 的 獎 賞 ． 這 等 人 拘 泥 在 所 見 過 的 、 " 有 古 卷 作 這 等 人 窺 察 所 ' 有 見 過 的 〕 隨 著 自 己 的 慾 心 、 無 故 的 自 高 自 大 、 |
| Croatian | Nitko neka vas ne podcjenjuje zato što on sam uživa u "poniznosti i štovanju anðela", zadubljuje se u svoja viðenja, bezrazložno se nadima tjelesnom pameæu svojom, |
| Danish | Lad ingen frarøve eder Sejrsprisen, idet han finder Behag i Ydmyghed og Dyrkelse af Englene, idet han indlader sig på, hvad han har set i Syner, forfængeligt opblæst af sit kødelige Sind, |
| Dutch | Dat dan niemand u overheerse naar zijn wil in nederigheid en dienst der engelen, intredende in hetgeen hij niet gezien heeft, tevergeefs opgeblazen zijnde door het verstand zijns vleses; |
| Finnish | Älköön teiltä riistäkö voittopalkintoanne kukaan, joka on mieltynyt nöyryyteen ja enkelien palvelemiseen ja pöyhkeilee näyistään ja on lihallisen mielensä turhaan paisuttama |
| French | Qu`aucun homme, sous une apparence d`humilité et par un culte des anges, ne vous ravisse son gré le prix de la course, tandis qu`il s`abandonne ses visions et qu`il est enflé d`un vain orgueil par ses pensées charnelles, |
| German | Laßt euch niemand das Ziel verrücken, der nach eigener Wahl einhergeht in Demut und Geistlichkeit der Engel, davon er nie etwas gesehen hat, und ist ohne Ursache aufgeblasen in seinem fleischlichen Sinn |
| Haitian Creole | Se poutèt sa, moun nou wè k'ap sèvi zanj epi ki swadizan p'ap vante tèt yo, pa kite moun konsa konprann pou yo wete rekonpans nou nan men nou. Moun konsa toujou ap rakonte vizyon yo te fè. Pou anyen, yo gonfle ak lògèy poutèt yon bann lide lèzòm yo mete nan tèt yo. |
| Hungarian | Senki tõletek a pálmát el ne vegye, kedvét találván alázatoskodásban és az angyalok tisztelésében, a melyeket nem látott, olyakat tudakozván, ok nélkül felfuvalkodván az õ testének értelmével. |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | Janganlah kalian membiarkan diri dirugikan oleh orang yang pura-pura merendahkan diri dan yang menyembah malaikat-malaikat. Orang itu sombong dengan pikiran-pikirannya yang duniawi dan membangga-banggaka penglihatan-penglihatannya yang khusus, |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | Jangan seorang pun dapat mengecewakan kamu daripada pahalamu, dengan peri merendahkan diri dan dengan menyembah segala malaekat sambil berkuat di atas penglihatannya, dengan sia-sia membesarkan dirinya menurut angan-angannya, |
| Italian | Nessuno v'impedisca di conseguire il premio, compiacendosi in pratiche di poco conto e nella venerazione degli angeli, seguendo le proprie pretese visioni, gonfio di vano orgoglio nella sua mente carnale, |
| Korean | 누 구 " 지 일 부 러 겸 손 함 과 천 사 숭 배 함 을 인 하 여 너 희 상 을 빼 앗 지 못 하 게 하 라 가 그 본 것 을 의 지 하 여 그 육 체 의 마 음 을 좇 아 헛 되 이 과 장 하 |
| Latvian | Lai neviens, kam patîk pazemoðanâs un kalpoðana eòìeïiem, jûs nepieviï! Tâds lepojas ar to, ko viòð nav redzçjis, bez pamata bûdams iedomîgs savâ miesas prâtâ. |
| Maori | Kei riro ta koutou taonga i te maminga a te tangata e mea ana ki te whakaiti i a ia, ki te karakia ki nga anahera, ka noho i roto i nga mea e kitea ana e ia, ka whakapehapeha kau noa, he mea na tona ngakau kikokiko; |
| Modern Greek | Ας μη σας στερηση μηδεις του βραβειου με προσποιησιν ταπεινοφροσυνης και με θρησκειαν των αγγελων, εμβατευων εις πραγματα τα οποια δεν ειδε, ματαιως φυσιουμενος υπο του νοος της σαρκος αυτου, |
| Norwegian | La ingen frarøve eder kamp-prisen, om nogen prøver på det ved ydmykhet og engle-dyrkelse, idet han gir sig av med syner, blir opblåst uten grunn av sitt kjødelige sinn |
| Portuguese | Ninguém atue como árbitro contra vós, afetando humildade ou culto aos anjos, firmando-se em coisas que tenha visto, inchado vãmente pelo seu entendimento carnal, |
| Rumanian | Nimeni sq nu vq rqpeascq premiul alergqrii, fqckndu-wi voia lui knsuw printr`o smerenie wi knchinare la kngeri, amesteckndu-se kn lucruri pe cari nu le -a vqzut, umflat de o mkndrie dewartq, prin gkndurile firii lui pqmkntewti, |
| Russian | оЙЛФП "Б ОЕ П'ПМШЭБЕФ ЧБУ УБНПЧПМШОЩН УНЙТЕООПНХ"ТЙЕН Й УМХЦЕОЙЕН бОЗЕМПЧ, ЧФПТЗБСУШ Ч ФП, ЮЕЗП ОЕ ЧЙ"ЕМ, 'ЕЪТБУУХ"ОП ОБ"НЕЧБСУШ МПФУЛЙН УЧПЙН ХНПН |
| Shuar | Tura shuar "Péejchach ajasam Yus áujtsuk aya Yusa suntari shiir awajsatniuiti" Túramkuinkia anturkairap. Nu shuar mesekranam Wáinkiamun áujmatenak ántar nankaamantu Enentáimtumainiawai. Aya aentsti Enentáimian chichainiawai. |
| Spanish | Nadie os prive de vuestro premio, fingiendo humildad y culto a los ángeles, haciendo alarde de lo que ha visto, vanamente hinchado por su mente carnal; |
| Swahili | Msikubali kuhukumiwa na mtu yeyote anayejitakia kuwa wa maana kwa sababu ya maono ya pekee na ambaye anasisitiza juu ya unyenyekevu wa uongo na ibada kwa malaika. Mtu wa namna hiyo amepumbazika kwa fikira danganifu za kidunia |
| Swedish | Låten icke segerlönen tagas ifrån eder av någon som har sin lust i "ödmjukhet" och ängladyrkan och gör sig stor med sina syner, någon som utan orsak är uppblåst genom sitt köttsliga sinne |
| Thai | อย่าให้ผู้ใ"โกงบำเหน็จของท่าน"้วยการจงใจถ่อมตัวลงและกราบไหว้ทูตสวรรค์ ใฝ่ฝันในสิ่งเหล่านั้นที่เขาไม่ไ"้เห็น ผยองขึ้นเปล่าๆตามความคิ"ของเนื้อหนัง |
| Ukrainian | Нехай вас не зводить ніхто удаваною покорою та службою Анголам, вдаючися до того, чого не бачив, нерозважно надимаючись своїм тілесним розумом, |
| Uma | Jadi', ane ria tauna to mposalai' -koi apa' uma nituku' tudui' -ra, neo' nipangalai' -ra. Ra'uli' tauna toera, ria inca-ra apa' ria-ra to mpohilo pangila. Ra'uli' uma-koi mpai' natarima Alata'ala ane uma-koi mpakadingki' nono-ni pai' mponyompa mala'eka. Neo' nipelele' tauna toera mposalai' -koi. Molangko nono-ra hante uma ria huraa-ra, apa' tudui' -ra toe mehuwu ngkai nono-ra moto to mpopekiri dunia' toi-wadi. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Misspellings | |
"Vainly" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: fainly, vainy, vany, veinl, venly, viany, voily. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "vainly" (pronounced vā"nlē) |
| 4 | -ā" n l ē | humanely, mainly, plainly, ungainly. |
| 3 | -n l ē | benignly, brazenly, certainly, clandestinely, cleanly, commonly, divinely, evenly, finely, gentlemanly, genuinely, greenly, heavenly, humanly, keenly, lonely, manly, matronly, mistakenly, obscenely, only, openly, slovenly, sternly, stubbornly, suddenly, thinly, uncertainly, uncommonly, unevenly, wantonly. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-i-l-n-v-y" | |
-1 letter: anvil, inlay, nival, vinal, vinyl. | |
-2 letters: anil, ayin, inly, lain, liny, nail, navy, vail, vain, vial, vina, viny. | |
-3 letters: ail, ain, ani, any, ivy, lav, lay, lin, nay, nil, van, via, yin. | |
-4 letters: ai, al, an, ay, in, la, li, na, ya. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-i-l-n-v-y" | |
+1 letter: naively. | |
+2 letters: enviably, inviably, natively, ravingly, savingly, synovial, valiancy, venality, venially, villainy. | |
+3 letters: invalidly, inviolacy, knavishly, liveryman, navigably, sylvanite, vaginally, vainglory, valiantly, varyingly, vibrantly. | |
+4 letters: inactively, inevitably, insolvably, invalidity, invaluably, invariably, invasively, inviolably, negatively, overlaying, sylvanites, univocally, vaultingly, vauntingly, vigilantly, virginally, visionally, waveringly. | |
+5 letters: antislavery, approvingly, attentively, clairvoyant, conceivably, convivially, deliveryman, equivalency, eventuality, expansively, genitivally, intervalley, inviability, inviolately, involuntary, irrelevancy, narratively, nonvalidity, normatively, overplaying, plaintively, quaveringly, ravishingly, revealingly, tentatively, unadvisedly, unavoidably, universally, vanishingly, ventilatory, volcanicity, voluntarily, vulcanicity. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)56 61 69 6E 6C 79 |
| Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)
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| American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)
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| Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)
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| Braille (1829, in France) (references)
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Morse Code (1836) (references)...- .- .. -. .-.. -.--. |
| Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)
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Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)01010110 01100001 01101001 01101110 01101100 01111001 |
HTML Code (1990) (references)V a i n l y |
ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)0056 0061 0069 006E 006C 0079 |
| British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)
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Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)566775807891 |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Quotations: Non-fiction 6. Usage Frequency 7. Translations: Modern 8. Translations: Ancient | 9. Bible Trace 10. Derivations 11. Rhymes 12. Anagrams | 13. Orthography 14. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
