In Vain
WordNet

adverb


(1)   To no avail
"He looked for her in vain"
"The city fathers tried vainly to find a solution"
WiktionaryText

Adverb



  1. Without success; ending in failure.
    • 1863 November 19, Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address, based on the signed "Bliss Copy"
      we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain
    • 19C, Friedrich Nietzsche
      On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain
  2. In a disrespectful manner, especially when concerning religion.
    • , Exodus 20:7
      Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain
 
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