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Examples

  • And in league with it was whiskey, with all its consummate effrontery and vain-glory.

    Chapter VI 2010

  • No man, who is not inflamed by vain-glory into enthusiasm, can flatter himself that his single, unsupported, desultory, unsystematic endeavors, are of power to defeat the subtle designs and united cabals of ambitious citizens.

    Is Karl Rove An Atheist? 2009

  • Thus have I laid open to you my whole heart, confessed my perplexities, acknowledged my vain-glory, and exposed with equal sincerity the sources of my doubts, and the motives of my decision: but now, indeed, how to proceed I know not; the difficulties which are yet to encounter I fear to enumerate, and the petition I have to urge I have scarce courage to mention.

    Cecilia 2008

  • 'We, however, do not make war upon the Athenians in a spirit of vain-glory, but from a sense of wrong; there is ample justification, and when we obtain redress, we will put up the sword.

    The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007

  • If they boast that they themselves assent because of the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit, and that they only invoke the aid of reason because of unbelievers, in order to convince them, not even so can this meet with our approval, for we can easily show that they have spoken either from emotion or vain-glory.

    Theologico-Political Treatise 2007

  • Vain ashes which in the oblivion of names, persons, times, and sexes, have found unto themselves a fruitless continuation, and only arise unto late posterity, as emblems of mortal vanities, antidotes against pride, vain-glory, and madding vices.

    Hydriotaphia, or Urn-burial 2007

  • Pyramids, arches, obelisks, were but the irregularities of vain-glory, and wild enormities of ancient magnanimity.

    Hydriotaphia, or Urn-burial 2007

  • A certain man assailed one who had put on the name of philosopher as a cloak to pride and vain-glory, not for the practice of real virtue, and added:

    Consolation of Philosophy 2007

  • When I shall see any of those combatants strip all his terms of ambiguity and obscurity, (which every one may do in the words he uses himself), I shall think him a champion for knowledge, truth, and peace, and not the slave of vain-glory, ambition, or a party.

    An Essay Concerning Human Understanding 2007

  • Besides, revenge without respect to the example and profit to come is a triumph, or glorying in the hurt of another, tending to no end (for the end is always somewhat to come); and glorying to no end is vain-glory, and contrary to reason; and to hurt without reason tendeth to the introduction of war, which is against the law of nature, and is commonly styled by the name of cruelty.

    Leviathan 2007

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  • Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

    noun

    Date: 13th century

    1 : excessive or ostentatious pride especially in one's achievements

    2 : vain display or show

    January 30, 2008

  • Most often heard in the adjective form, vain-glorious.

    January 31, 2008