vainly

vain  (vn)

adj. vain·er, vain·est

1. Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt.

2. Lacking substance or worth: vain talk.

3. Excessively proud of one's appearance or accomplishments; conceited.

4. Archaic Foolish.

Idiom:

in vain

1. To no avail; without success: Our labor was in vain.

2. In an irreverent or disrespectful manner: took the Lord's name in vain.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vnus, empty; see eu- in Indo-European roots.]

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vainly adv.

vainness n.

Synonyms: vain, empty, hollow, idle, nugatory, otiose
These adjectives mean lacking value or substance: vain regrets; empty pleasures; hollow threats; idle dreams; nugatory commentaries; an otiose belief in alchemy. See Also Synonyms at futile.

Thesaurus

Adv.

1.

vainly - to no avail; "he looked for her in vain"; "the city fathers tried vainly to find a solution" in vain

Translations

vainly [ˈveɪnlɪ] ADV

1. (= to no effect) [try, struggle] → en vano, inútilmente; [search] → sin éxito, en vano

2. (= conceitedly) → vanidosamente

vainly [ˈveɪnli] adv (= uselessly, try, search, hope) → vainement

vainly

adv

(= to no effect) → vergeblich, vergebens

(= conceitedly, about looks) → eitel; (about qualities also) → eingebildet

vainly [ˈveɪnlɪ] adv (see adj) → invano, vanitosamente

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vainly [ˈveɪnlɪ] adv (see adj) → invano, vanitosamente