RE:
What does it mean to do something in vain?
I know what BEING vain is, but what does it mean to actually DO something in vain…i.e. love in vain or die in vain

–adjective, -er, -est. 1. excessively proud of or concerned about one’s own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited: a vain dandy.

2. proceeding from or showing personal vanity: vain remarks.

3. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile: a vain effort.

4. without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless: vain pageantry; vain display.

5. Archaic. senseless or foolish.

—Idiom6. in vain, a. without effect or avail; to no purpose: to apologize in vain.

b. in an improper or irreverent manner: to take God’s name in vain.

Pronunciation: ‘vAn

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, empty, futile, from Latin vanus — more at WANE

1 : having no real value : IDLE, WORTHLESS

2 : marked by futility or ineffectualness : UNSUCCESSFUL, USELESS

3 archaic : FOOLISH, SILLY

4 : having or showing undue or excessive pride in one’s appearance or achievements : CONCEITED

synonym see FUTILE

– vain·ly adverb

– vain·ness /’vAn-n&s/ noun

– in vain

1 : to no end : without success or result

2 : in an irreverent or blasphemous manner

synonyms VAIN, NUGATORY, OTIOSE, IDLE, EMPTY, HOLLOW mean being without worth or significance. VAIN implies either absolute or relative absence of value . NUGATORY suggests triviality or insignificance . OTIOSE suggests that something serves no purpose and is either an encumbrance or a superfluity . IDLE suggests being incapable of worthwhile use or effect . EMPTY and HOLLOW suggest a deceiving lack of real substance or soundness or genuineness .