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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
*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.
*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.
*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]].
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."
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]].
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]
[[Category: Psychology]]
[[Category: General Reference]]
[[Category: General Reference]]