dots-menu
×

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class VI. Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral Powers
Section II. Personal Affections
5. Extrinsic Affections

880. Vanity.

   NOUN:VANITY; conceit, conceitedness; self-conceit, self-complacency, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, self-love, self-approbation, self-praise, self-glorification, self-laudation, self-gratulation, self-applause, self-admiration; amour propre [F.]; selfishness [See Selfishness].
  PRETENSIONS, airs, affected manner, mannerism; egoism, egotism, priggism, priggishness; coxcombery, gaudery, vainglory, elation; pride [See Pride]; ostentation [See Ostentation]; assurance [See Insolence].
  vox et prœterea nihil [L.].
  EGOIST, egotist; peacock; coxcomb [See Fop]; Sir Oracle [See Blusterer].
   VERB:BE VAIN &c. adj.; be vain of; pique oneself (pride) [See Pride]; lay the flattering unction to one’s soul.
  have -too high, – an overweening- opinion of -oneself, – one’s talents; blind oneself as to one’s own merit; not think small beer of oneself [colloq.]; strut; put oneself forward; fish for compliments; give oneself airs (assume) [See Insolence]; boast [See Boasting].
  RENDER VAIN &c. adj.; inspire with vanity &c. n.; inflate, puff up, turn one’s head.
   ADJECTIVE:VAIN, – as a peacock; conceited, overweening, pert, forward; vainglorious, high-flown; ostentatious [See Ostentation]; puffed up, inflated, flushed.
  self-satisfied, self-confident, self-sufficient, self-flattering, self-admiring, self-applauding, self-glorious, self-opinionated; entêté [F.] &c. (wrong-headed) [See Misjudgment]; wise in one’s own conceit, pragmatical [rare], overwise, pretentious, priggish; egotistic or egotistical; soidisant [F.] (boastful) [See Boasting]; arrogant [See Insolence]; assured.
  UNABASHED, unblushing, unconstrained, unceremonious; free and easy.
   ADVERB:VAINLY &c. adj.
   QUOTATIONS:
  1. How we apples swim!—Swift
  2. Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk.—Cymbeline
  3. The fuming vanities of earth.—Wordsworth
  4. How many saucy airs we meet, From Temple Bar to Aldgate Street!—Gay
  5. Vain? Let it be so! Nature was her teacher.—Holmes