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.

Adjective

(er)

Gratified; feeling honoured (by something); feeling satisfied or happy about a fact or event.

Possessed of a due sense of what one is worth or deserves.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=6 citation , passage=‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”. […]’.}}

(chiefly, Biblical)  Having too high an opinion of oneself; arrogant, supercilious.

* 1611 , Proverbs 16:5, King James Version

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

* {{quote-book, year=1907, author=(Hilaire Belloc), title=(Cautionary Tales for Children), section=Godolphin Horne Who was cursed with the Sin of Pride, and Became a Boot-Black

, passage=Godolphin Horne was Nobly Born; / He held the human race in scorn, / And lived with all his sisters where / His father lived, in Berkeley Square. / And oh! The lad was deathly proud ! / He never shook your hand or bowed, / But merely smirked and nodded thus: / How perfectly ridiculous! / Alas! That such Affected Tricks / Should flourish in a child of six!}}

Generating a sense of pride; being a cause for pride.

(obsolete)  Brave, valiant; gallant.

Standing out or raised; swollen.

(obsolete)  Excited by sexual desire; (of female animals) in heat.

Happy, usually used with a sense of honor, as in "I'm so proud' to have you in our town." But occasionally just plain happy as in "I'm ' proud to see gas prices down." This is a widespread colloquial usage in the southern United States.