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Vain vs Pride - What's the difference?

vain | pride |

As an adjective vain

is overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.

As a noun pride is

the quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.

As a verb pride is

to take or experience pride in something, be proud of it.

vain

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason.
  • * (rfdate) Leo Rosten
  • Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain ; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.
  • Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • thy vain excuse
  • * Bible, (w) v. 6
  • Let no man deceive you with vain words.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy.
  • Effecting no purpose; pointless, futile.
  • * (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • Vain is the force of man / To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
  • * (rfdate) William of Occam
  • It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=6, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied. His manner and appearance were suggestive of a satiated sea-lion.}}
  • Showy; ostentatious.
  • * (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • Load some vain church with old theatric state.

    Synonyms

    * (overly proud of oneself) conceited; puffed up; inflated * (pointless) pointless, futile, fruitless, ineffectual * See also * See also

    Derived terms

    * in vain * vainness * vainly

    pride

    English

    (wikipedia pride)

    Noun

  • The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
  • A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; -- in a good sense.
  • He took pride in his work.
    He had pride of ownership in his department.
  • * (rfdate) Macaulay
  • A people which takes no pride' in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with ' pride by remote descendants.
  • * (rfdate) (William Blake)
  • The pride of the peacock is the glory of God.
  • Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain; hubris.
  • * (rfdate) G. K. Chesterton, Introduction to Aesop's Fables
  • Pride goeth before the fall.
  • That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children etc.
  • * (rfdate) Spenser
  • lofty trees yclad with summer's pride
  • * (rfdate) Bible, Zech. ix. 6
  • I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
  • * (rfdate) Goldsmith
  • a bold peasantry, their country's pride
  • (zoology) The small European lamprey species .
  • Show; ostentation; glory.
  • * (rfdate) Shakespeare
  • Pride , pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
  • Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory,
  • * to be in the pride of one's life.
  • * (rfdate) Shakespeare
  • a falcon, towering in her pride of place
  • Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
  • Lust; sexual desire; especially, excitement of sexual appetite in a female beast.
  • (zoology) A company of lions.
  • Synonyms

    * (lamprey species) prid, sandpiper * See also

    Derived terms

    * point of pride * pride comes before a fall * prideful

    Verb

  • (reflexive) To take or experience pride in something, be proud of it.
  • I pride myself on being a good judge of character, but pride goes before the fall and I'm not a good judge of my own character so I'm often wrong without knowing it.

    References

    (Webster 1913)