n. [ Aphetic form of avail, n. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Avails; profit; return; proceeds. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My house is as 'twere the cave where the young outlaw hoards the stolen vails of his occupation. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An unexpected gain or acquisition; a casual advantage or benefit; a windfall. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Money given to servants by visitors; a gratuity; -- usually in the plural. [ Written also vale. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Submission; decline; descent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Aphetic form of avale. See Avale, Vale. ] [ Written also vale, and veil. ] 1. To let fall; to allow or cause to sink. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Vail your regard
Upon a wronged, I would fain have said, a maid! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lower, or take off, in token of inferiority, reverence, submission, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

France must vail her lofty-plumed crest! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without vailing his bonnet or testifying any reverence for the alleged sanctity of the relic. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. & v. t. Same as Veil. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To yield or recede; to give place; to show respect by yielding, uncovering, or the like. [ Written also vale, and veil. ] [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy convenience must vail to thy neighbor's necessity. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who vails. [ Obs. ] Overbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An outer, or exterior, wall. See Vauntmure. [ Obs. ] Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Vanity; emptiness; -- now used only in the phrase
in vain. [ 1913 Webster ]

For vain. See In vain. [ Obs. ] Shak. --
In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectually. “ In vain doth valor bleed.” Milton. “ In vain they do worship me.” Matt. xv. 9. --
To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Vainer superl. Vainest. ] [ F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. Vanish, Vanity, Vaunt to boast. ] 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. “Thy vain excuse.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every man walketh in a vain show. Ps. xxxix. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let no man deceive you with vain words. Eph. v. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vain pomp, and glory of this world, I hate ye! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute of force or efficacy; effecting no purpose; fruitless; ineffectual; as, vain toil; a vain attempt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bring no more vain oblations. Isa. i. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vain is the force of man
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason; conceited; puffed up; inflated. [ 1913 Webster ]

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.). [ 1913 Webster ]

The minstrels played on every side,
Vain of their art. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Showy; ostentatious. [ 1913 Webster ]

Load some vain church with old theatric state. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Empty; worthless; fruitless; ineffectual; idle; unreal; shadowy; showy; ostentatious; light; inconstant; deceitful; delusive; unimportant; trifling. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Feeling or indicating vainglory; elated by vanity; boastful. “Arrogant and vainglorious expression.” Sir M. Hale. -- Vain`glo"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Vain`glo"ri*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]