Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.
Class VI. Words Relating to the Sentient and Moral PowersSection 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:
- How we apples swim!—Swift
- Prouder than rustling in unpaid-for silk.—Cymbeline
- The fuming vanities of earth.—Wordsworth
- How many saucy airs we meet, From Temple Bar to Aldgate Street!—Gay
- Vain? Let it be so! Nature was her teacher.—Holmes