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)

In shadow; darkened by shadows.

He sat in a shadowy corner.

(of character) Dark, obscure.

He was a shadowy man who rarely spoke.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=December 19 , author=Kerry Brown , title=Kim Jong-il obituary , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=By 1980, South Korea had overtaken its northern neighbour, and was well on its way to being one of the Asian tigers – high-performing economies, with democratic movements ultimately winning power in the 1990s. The withdrawal of most Soviet aid in 1991, with the fall of the Soviet empire, pushed North Korea further down. Kim Il-sung had held a genuine place on North Korean people's affections. His son was regarded as a shadowy playboy, with rumours circulating over the years that he imported Russian and Chinese prostitutes, and lived a life of profligacy and excess.}}