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| + | ==Origin== |
| + | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] vanite, from Anglo-French vanité, from [[Latin]] vanitat-, vanitas quality of being empty or vain, from vanus empty, vain |
| + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_centur 13th Century] |
| + | ==Definitions== |
| *1. a. That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no [[value]] or [[profit]]. | | *1. a. That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no [[value]] or [[profit]]. |
| :b. Vain and unprofitable conduct or employment of [[time]]. | | :b. Vain and unprofitable conduct or employment of [[time]]. |
| :c. in vanity, in vain. Obs.1 | | :c. in vanity, in vain. Obs.1 |
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| *2. a. The [[quality]] of being vain or worthless; the futility or worthlessness of something. | | *2. a. The [[quality]] of being vain or worthless; the futility or worthlessness of something. |
− | :b. The quality of being foolish or of holding erroneous opinions. Obs. | + | :b. The [[quality]] of being foolish or of holding erroneous opinions. Obs. |
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| *3. a. The quality of being personally vain; high opinion of oneself; self-conceit and [[desire]] for admiration. | | *3. a. The quality of being personally vain; high opinion of oneself; self-conceit and [[desire]] for admiration. |
| :b. With a and pl.: An instance of this; an occasion for being vain. | | :b. With a and pl.: An instance of this; an occasion for being vain. |
| :c. A [[thing]] of which one is vain; also slang, one's favourite liquor. | | :c. A [[thing]] of which one is vain; also slang, one's favourite liquor. |
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| *4. a. A vain, idle, or worthless [[thing]]; a thing or [[action]] of no [[value]]. | | *4. a. A vain, idle, or worthless [[thing]]; a thing or [[action]] of no [[value]]. |
| :b. An idle tale or matter; an [[idea]] or statement of a worthless or unfounded [[nature]]. Obs. | | :b. An idle tale or matter; an [[idea]] or statement of a worthless or unfounded [[nature]]. Obs. |
| + | *5. Emptiness, lightness; the [[state]] of being void or empty; inanity. Obs. rare. |
| + | ==Description== |
| + | In [[conventional]] parlance, '''vanity''' is the excessive [[belief]] in one's own [[abilities]] or [[attractiveness]] to others. Prior to the 14th century it did not have such [[narcissistic]] undertones, and merely meant futility. The related term ''vainglory'' is now often seen as an archaic synonym for vanity, but [[originally]] meant boasting in vain, i.e. unjustified boasting; although [[glory]] is now seen as having an exclusively [[positive]] [[meaning]], the [[Latin]] term gloria (from which it derives) roughly means boasting, and was often used as a [[negative]] [[criticism]]. |
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− | *5. Emptiness, lightness; the [[state]] of being void or empty; inanity. Obs. rare.
| + | In many [[religions]] vanity, in its [[modern]] sense, is considered a [[form]] of [[self]]-[[idolatry]], in which one [[rejects]] [[God]] for the sake of one's own image, and thereby becomes [[divorced]] from the [[graces]] of [[God]]. The [[stories]] of [[Lucifer]], [[Narcissus]] (who gave us the term narcissism) and others attend to a [[pernicious]] aspect of vanity. [[Philosophically]] speaking, vanity may refer to a broader sense of [[egoism]] and [[pride]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nietzsche Friedrich Nietzsche] wrote that "vanity is the [[fear]] of appearing [[original]]: it is thus a lack of [[pride]], but not necessarily a lack of originality." One of Mason Cooley's aphorisms is "Vanity well fed is benevolent. Vanity [[hungry]] is spiteful." |
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| + | In [[Christian]] teachings vanity is considered an example of [[pride]], one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins seven deadly sins]. This list evolved from an earlier list of eight sins, which included vainglory as a sin [[independent]] of [[pride]]. |
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| + | In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy Orthodox church], vanity is one of eight sinful and [[diabolical]] [[passions]], the fight against which is a major task of every Orthodox Christian.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity] |
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| + | [[Category: Psychology]] |
| [[Category: General Reference]] | | [[Category: General Reference]] |