| 释义 |
vainly, adv.|ˈveɪnlɪ|
Forms: α. 4, 6 vaynly, 6–7 vainlie, 7 vaine-, 6– vainly. β. 5 veynli, -(e)ly, veinly. γ. 6 Sc. vanelie.
[f. vain a. + -ly2.]
1. In a vain or futile manner; without advantage, profit, or success; to no effect or purpose; in vain; uselessly, fruitlessly, ineffectually.
1382Wyclif James iv. 5 Wher weenen ȝe, that veynly [L. inaniter] the scripture seith [etc.]. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VII. 195, I folwer of evel craft..trowed vaynly for to be defended and helped by ȝoure prayers. c1450tr. De Imitatione iii. li. 123 Ner he shal not ioy veinly, if he be resonably excused by oþer. 1509Fisher Funeral Serm. C'tess Richmond Wks. (1876) 293 This noble prynces,..whome my purpose is not vaynly to extol..aboue her merytes, but to the edefyenge of other. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI (1550) 23 Vitayll..not wantonly consumed, nor vainly spent. 1607Shakes. Timon v. iv. 8 Till now, my selfe and such As slept within the shadow of your power Haue..breath'd Our sufferance vainly. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 811, I forewarn thee, shun His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope To be invulnerable. 1695Ld. Preston Boeth. i. 12 Every one going away with that Rag which he had snatch'd, vainly believ'd that he had possess'd himself of Philosophy. 1743Francis tr. Hor., Odes i. xiv. 13 What though majestic in your pride you stood.., You now may vainly boast an empty name. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. xxix. (1787) III. 110 Perhaps he vainly imagined, that he laboured for the interest of an only daughter. 1808Scott Marm. i. xii, There, vainly Ralph de Wilton strove 'Gainst Marmion's force to stand. 1858Froude Hist. Eng. IV. xviii. 31 In the caprices of passion and humour we look vainly for any guiding principle. 1870Bryant Iliad iii. I. 98 From my hand The spear was vainly flung and gave no wound.
Comb.1648J. Beaumont Psyche xvi. xxviii, He..Beyond my vainly-panting reach is plac'd.
†2. Foolishly, senselessly, thoughtlessly. Obs.
1588Durham Depos. (Surtees) 330 She spoke somwhat idlie and vainlie, by reason of the extremitie of her sickness. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. I. 101 Nathir haue thay nochtwithstandeng now vanelie fallin frome the faith of the Catholik Kirk. 1612Drayton Poly-olb. xi. 346 Ethelbald,..though most vainly given when he was hot and young, Yet, by the wise reproofe of godly Bishops brought From those unstay'd delights by which his youth was caught. 1647Cowley Mistr., Vain Love 46 What Lover can like me complain, Who first lov'd vainly, next in vain! 1730Bailey (fol.), Inaniloquent, talking or babbling vainly.
3. With personal vanity; conceitedly.
1602Ld. Cromwell iv. i. 35 'Tis greater glorie for me, That you remember it, then of myselfe Vainlie to report it. 1650Hobbes De Corpore Politico 3 How some are vainly Glorious, and hope for precedencie and superiority above their Fellows. 1692E. Walker tr. Epictetus' Mor. xi, When with too much pleasure you admire Your Horse's Worth, and vainly boast his Sire. 1779Cowper Human Frailty 20 A stranger to superior strength, Man vainly trusts his own. |