Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
in vain en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(idiomatic) Unsuccessful, failed.
The problems concerning contrast induced hyperemia and the in vain efforts to search for a contrast agent not influencing flow […]
2012, N.H. Pijls, Maximal Myocardial Perfusion as a Measure of the Functional Significance of Coronary Artery Disease:Their efforts were in vain and he succumbed to his injuries.
Forms
Translations (9)
id sia-sia (without success) · pl daremny (without success) · eo sensolva (without success) · pl bezskuteczny (without success) · fi turha (without success) · cmn 徒勞的 /徒劳的 (without success) · eo vana (without success) · pt em vão (without success) · mhr арам (without success)
in vain en · ADV
Pronunciation
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) Without success or a result; ending in failure.
19th c., Friedrich Nietzsche
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain.
All these great plans were in vain, however, for in the cold dawn following the "Mania" years of 1845–46 the M.B.M. & M.J.R. project was truncated to an 11+¹⁄₂-mile line from Ambergate to Rowsley.
1960 March, J. P. Wilson, E. N. C. Haywood, “The route through the Peak: Derby to Manchester. Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 149:[…]that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain[…]
1863 November 19, Abraham Lincoln, Dedicatory Remarks (Gettysburg Address)^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address_(Bliss_copy)), near Soldiers' National Cemetery, →LCCN, Bliss copy, page 2:Knock me down, it's all in vain
I get right back on my feet again
1980, Eddie Schwartz, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”, in Crimes of Passion, performed by Pat Benatar:For some time Grannie tried in vain to comfort her.
1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 46:
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(idiomatic) In a disrespectful manner, without honoring the proper meaning; insincerely or without proper respect.
This petition is the reverse side of the commandment against taking God's name in vain.
2015, Kent Gramm, The Prayer of Jesus: A Reading of the Lord’s Prayer, page 69:Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine:[…]
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 20:7, column 2:That's fine. I know you won't engage your word in vain.
2016, Alexandre Dumas, translated by Frank J. Morlock, The Count of Monte Cristo, Part IV (play), page 247:Methinks I see him even now in my mind's eye;— the firm and upright figure,— the step, quick and determined, — the eye, which shot so keen and so penetrating a glance,— the features on which care had already planted wrinkles, and hear his language, in which he never wasted word in vain, expressed in a voice which had sometimes an occasional harshness, far from the intention of the speaker.
1817, Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy, published 2015, page 4:A fetishist regime attempts to annul the separation of image and spectator, to reinstall an immediate relation that promises (in vain) to provide satisfaction to desire itself.
2013, Mandy Merck, The Sexual Subject: Screen Reader in Sexuality:McLaren's task, it seems, is to set Jesus in a more appropriate and biblical context so that we won't use his name “in vain.”
2015, Jimmy R. Watson, Big Jesus: A Pastor’s Struggle with Christology, page 119:
Forms
Deriveds
take someone's name in vain · Richard of York gave battle in vain
Synonyms
vainly
Translations (140)
fr à la légère (disrespectful manner) · mhr арамеш (without success) · la in vānum (without success) · fi tarpeettomasti (without success) · pl na darmo (without success) · grc ἅλιον (without success) · is í hégóma (disrespectful manner) · nl vergeefs (without success) · sh ȕzalūdno (without success) · el εις μάτην (without success) · hu illetlenül (disrespectful manner) · pdt vejäfs (without success) · pl na próżno (without success) · hu tiszteletlenül (disrespectful manner) · de respektlos (disrespectful manner) · is unnið fyrir gýg (without success) · af ydellik (without success) · mi paraurehe (without success) · sh ȕzalūd (without success) · ca en va (without success) · bg всу́е (without success) · de eitel (disrespectful manner) · ru тще́тно (without success) · fr inutilement (without success) · izh turhaa (without success) · el του κάκου (without success) · ru зря (without success) · nb forgjeves (without success) · de missbräuchlich (disrespectful manner) · ru безуспе́шно (without success) · mi parau (without success) · uk дарма́ (without success) · be дарма́ (without success) · it disdicevolmente (disrespectful manner) · es de momio (without success) · la frustrā (without success) · id sia-sia (without success) · nn forgjeves (without success) · it alla leggera (disrespectful manner) · da forgæves (without success) · uz behuda (without success) · es en balde (without success) · pdc vergeblich (without success) · cmn 無益 /无益 (without success) · fi tarpeetta (without success) · is árangurslaus (without success) · ro degeaba (without success) · pt debalde (without success) · cmn 徒勞 /徒劳 (without success) · is til einskis (without success) · la in cassum (without success) · grc ἐπὶ ματαίῳ (disrespectful manner) · fi turhaan (without success) · pdc vergebens (without success) · de umsonst (without success) · de vergebens (without success) · hy զուր (without success) · chn k'ax̣chi (without success) · ru всу́е (without success) · hu hiába (without success) · hy իզուր (without success) · af vergeefs (without success) · af omsons (without success) · hu hasztalanul (without success) · eo sensolve (without success) · ro în zadar (without success) · yi אומזיסט־אומנישט (without success) · uk даре́мно (without success) · th อย่างสูญเปล่า (without success) · ml വൃഥാ (without success) · fi turhaan (disrespectful manner) · cmn 白白 (without success) · vi hoài (without success) · ckb باداوە (without success) · ja 無益の (without success) · es a la ligera (disrespectful manner) · pt inutilmente (without success) · el επί ματαίω (without success) · sv förgäves (without success) · ang on īdel (without success) · de vergeblich (without success) · grc μάτην (without success) · pdc vergewens (without success) · be ма́рна (without success) · hu hasztalan (without success) · ar عَبَثًا (without success) · nv chʼééh (without success) · cmn 一場空 /一场空 (without success) · nb fånyttes (without success) · tl lihing (without success) · cmn 褻瀆地 /亵渎地 (disrespectful manner) · tr boşuna (without success) · ru да́ром (without success) · gl en van (disrespectful manner) · de lästerlich (disrespectful manner) · hu hiába (disrespectful manner) · bg напра́зно (without success) · mnc ᠮᡝᡴᡝᠯᡝ (without success) · sl zamàn (without success) · ko 헛되이 (without success) · la futtile (without success) · bg напу́сто (without success) · pl nadaremno (disrespectful manner) · eo vane (without success) · cs neúspěšně (without success) · af verniet (without success) · es inútilmente (without success) · nl tevergeefs (without success) · mhr арамлан (without success) · el μάταια (without success) · es de balde (without success) · be дарэ́мна (without success) · grc μάψ (without success) · ru напра́сно (without success) · mi huakore (without success) · fr en vain (without success) · it invano (without success) · ar سُدًى (without success) · pt em vão (disrespectful manner) · it invano (disrespectful manner) · tl sa walang kabuluhan (disrespectful manner) · pl na marne (without success) · ru впусту́ю (without success) · yi אומזיסט (without success) · af tevergeefs (without success) · uk ма́рно (without success) · pt em vão (without success) · kk бекер (without success) · cmn 徒然 (without success) · es en vano (without success) · pl daremnie (without success) · ang hōlinga (without success) · gl en van (without success) · pl bezskutecznie (without success) · pdc umsunscht (without success) · mhr арам (without success) · th โดยสูญเปล่า (without success) · ru по́пусту (without success) · ml വെറുതെ (without success) · gl en balde (without success)