vanity English · revision 39825

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la vānus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈvænɪti/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈvænəti/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|vanite]], [[bor|fro|vanité|t=self-conceit; futility]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026)^(AHD 2024)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|vānitās|t=emptiness, falsity, foolish pride]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) formed with the noun suffix that became [[-ity]]^(MWU 2024)^(Dictionary.com 2016) on [[m|la|vānus|t=empty, idle]], the source of [[vain]] and [[vanish]].^(Ayto 2005)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) Etymonline and the AHD trace the adjective to [[ine-pro|*euə-|t=to leave, abandon]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2024) and Barnhart and Merriam-Webster relate it to [[wane]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The Anglo-Norman word, recorded from the early 12th century, meant emptiness, an empty trifle, or exhaustion.^(AND)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ That which is vain, futile or worthless: about 1200 in Barnhart and Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) about 1230 in the OED, in ''Hali Meiðhad''.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The early sense, futility or worthlessness, is the one of the Preacher's ''vanity of vanities; all is vanity'' in Ecclesiastes.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) Wasteful conduct or use of time is recorded from 1303,^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) and a worthless thing or empty show from about 1340.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) The sense now most common, self-conceit and the wish to be admired, is recorded from the mid-14th century, in Richard Rolle.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) still gave "emptiness, uncertainty" first, followed by "fruitless desire", "trifling labour" and "petty pride".^(Johnson 1755) Bunyan's ''Pilgrim's Progress'' (1678) placed Vanity Fair in the town of Vanity, where worthless goods were sold;^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Weekley 1921) the name came to stand for the world as a place of frivolity, especially after Thackeray's novel of 1847–48.^(Cresswell 2021)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) From the late 19th century the word formed names of things for personal adornment: the ''vanity table'' (by 1898), the ''vanity bag'' (by 1901) and the ''vanity case'' (about 1904).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) In North America ''vanity'' alone has meant a dressing table since 1937, and a bathroom cabinet with a washbasin since 1967.^(OED 2026) The adjective use, for things paid for or made to flatter their owner, dates from about 1925,^(MWU 2024) as in ''vanity publishing'' (by 1960) and the customized ''vanity plate'' (by 1983).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – that which is vain or worthless.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1303 – unprofitable conduct or use of time.^(OED 2026)

+ * c. 1340 – self-conceit, the desire for admiration.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1678 – Vanity Fair, in Bunyan.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1898 – ''vanity table''.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1904 – ''vanity case''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1925 – adjective, paid for by the author or made for show.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1937 – (North America) a dressing table.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1967 – (North America) a vanity unit.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Too high an opinion of one's own looks, abilities or achievements; [[conceit]]: ''It was pure vanity that stopped him wearing glasses.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # The quality of being worthless or futile; something empty or useless: ''the vanity of earthly riches''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (North America) A [[dressing table]]; also a [[cabinet]] with a [[washbasin]] set into it.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Paid for or produced chiefly to please or show off its owner or creator, as in ''vanity press'' and ''vanity project''.^(MWU 2024)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vanity case]]

+ * [[vanity press]]

+ * [[vanity plate]]

+ * [[Vanity Fair]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vain]]

+ * [[vanish]]

+ * [[vacant]]

+ * [[wane]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}