[f. as prec. + -NESS.] The state or condition of being vain, in various senses: a. Futility, ineffectiveness, uselessness.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. xxxiii. 18. The helps of the world hold our senses entangled … till they have given us a tryall of theyr vaynenesse.
1600. Palfreyman, Baldwin’s Mor. Philos., 37. The vainenes of this life is greater then the profit.
1648. W. Browne, Polexena, V. I. 284. I knew the vainnesse of my hopes, and the just cause Alcidiana had to punish my boldnesse.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), IV. 303. Beauty … shew’d the vainess of Defence, When Phillis does Invade.
1849. Robertson, Serm., Ser. I. xix. (1866), 314. Pilate, feeling the vainness … of these pretensions.
1892. Athenæum, 18 June, 790/1. The vainness of this and that creed.
b. Vanity, esp. personal vanity or conceit. Now rare.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. XXVI. iii. I did not them frequent, Who be to vainesse bent.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. Prol. 20. Free from vain-nesse, and selfe-glorious pride.
1600. Palfreyman, Baldwin’s Mor. Philos., I. 12. Hee despised … much all vainnesse of apparell.
1645. Wither, Vox Pacifica, 19. The vices, and the vainnesse of thy tongue.
1825. Coleridge, Lett. Convers., etc., II. 179. Mr. Chance is a self-satisfied man, but of the very … best sort…. I regard such vainness but as the overflow of humanity.
† c. Foolishness, stupidity. Obs.–1
1591. Spenser, Vis. Worlds Vanitie, vi. O how great vainnesse is it then to scorne The weake.
