I.that contains nothing, empty, void. vacant.
I. Lit. (rare; “not in Cic.): sed illos Exspectata seges vanis elusit aristis,” Verg. G. 1, 226: “leve ac vanum granum,” Col. 2, 9, 13: “ne vana urbis magnitudo esset,” Liv. 1, 8, 5: “vanior jam erat hostium acies,” id. 2, 47, 4: “videtis ordines raros, cornua extenta, mediam aciem vanam et exhaustam,” Curt. 4, 14, 14: “vanam aciem esse ratus,” i. e. thin, weak, id. 4, 14, 8: non vanae redeat sanguis imagini, i. e. to the shade of the dead (so called as being without a body), Hor. C. 1, 24, 15; 3, 27, 41.—
II. Trop., empty as to purport or result, idle, null, groundless, unmeaning, fruitless, vain (freq. and class.): omnes dant consilium vanum, Enn. ap. Front. Ep. 2, 13 (Trag. Rel. v. 419 Vahl.): “falsum aut vanum aut fictum (opp. vera),” Ter. Eun. 1, 2, 24: “oratio,” Cic. Lael. 26, 98: vana quaedam atque inania polliceri. id. Planc. 42, 101: “vana falsaque,” Plin. 30, 2, 5, § “14: res tumida, vana, ventosa,” Sen. Ep. 84, 11: “orationi vanae crediderunt,” idle, delusive, Cic. Rosc. Am. 40, 117: “non bellum sed vanam imaginem belli insedisse,” Liv. 3, 16, 5: “verba,” Ov. M. 13, 263: “convicia,” id. ib. 9, 303: “historiae,” Quint. 1, 8, 20: “argumentum,” id. 7, 2, 34: “error,” Lucr. 1, 1068: “agitatio armorum,” Liv. 7, 10, 8: “metus,” Hor. C. 1, 23, 3; Ov. H. 16, 342: “gaudia,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 188: “spes,” Ov. M. 14, 364: “ira,” Val. Fl. 8, 374; Liv. 1, 10, 4: “fides,” Verg. A. 4, 12: “omen,” Ov. M. 2, 597: “vox auguris,” id. ib. 3, 349: “cuspis,” id. ib. 8, 346: “pila omnia,” Liv. 7, 23, 8: “pleraque tela,” id. 30, 10, 13: “ensis,” id. 7, 10, 9: “ictus,” id. 34, 39, 2: “promissa,” Tac. A. 3, 16: “vana et irrita testamenta,” Suet. Calig. 38: “vaniore dicendi genere inflata (gens),” Quint. 12, 10, 17: “sententiarum vanissimus strepitus,” Petr. 1.—With abl.: “postquam equestris pugna effectu quam conatibus vanior erat,” Liv. 7, 7, 8: “oratio non suis vana laudibus, non crimine alieno laeta,” id. 4, 41, 1.—
2. Subst.: vānum , i, n., emptiness, nothingness, naught: “ad vanum et irritum redacta victoria,” brought to nothing, Liv. 26, 37, 8: “nec tota ex vano criminatio erat,” i. e. groundless, without cause, id. 33, 31, 4: “ex vano habere spem,” id. 27, 26, 1: “cedit labor in vanum,” Sen. Hippol. 182. —Plur.: “haud vana adtulere,” Liv. 4, 37, 6.—Neutr. plur. adverb.: “ut vidit (Arruntem) laetantem animis ac vana tumentem,” i. e. vainly, with vain show, Verg. A. 11, 854.—With gen.: “corruptus vanis rerum,” Hor. S. 2, 2, 25: “vana rumoris,” Tac. A. 4, 59.—
3. Vanum est, with subject-clause: “vanum arbitror esse circa canis ortum angues candidos membranam eam exuere,” Plin. 30, 3, 8, § 25.—
B. Transf., of persons, false, lying, deceptive, delusive, untrustworthy: “vanus et perfidiosus et impius,” false, Cic. Quint. 6, 26: “vanus mendaxque,” Verg. A. 2, 80: “haruspices,” Cic. Div. 1, 19, 36: “haec mihi non vani (neque erat cur fallere vellent) Narravere senes,” i. e. veracious, Ov. M. 8, 721; cf.: “ingenium dictatoris,” Liv. 1, 27, 1: “vane Ligus frustraque animis elate superbis,” Verg. A. 11, 715: “vir omnium vanissimus,” Vell. 2, 30, 1: “invidia vulgi vanum ingenium dictatoris corrupit,” weak, wavering, Liv. 1, 27, 1: “ne irrisus ac vanus iisdem castris assideret, etc.,” in vain, Tac. H. 2, 22 fin.—With gen.: “aut ego (i. e. Juno) veri Vana feror,” Verg. A. 10, 631: “voti vanus,” i. e. deceived, Sil. 12, 261: “turba vana sanctitudinis,” App. de Deo Socr. p. 43, 1.—
2. Esp., vainglorious, ostentatious, boastful, vain: “Cn. Lentulus perincertum stolidior an vanior,” Sall. H. 4, 35 Dietsch ad loc.: “laudare se vani, vituperare stulti est,” Val. Max. 7, 2, ext. 8.—With abl.: “hunc ingenio vanum Aetoli inpulerant in spem regni,” Liv. 35, 47, 7.—Hence, adv.: vānē , idly, vainly (post-class.): “vane gaudere,” Tert. Apol. 49: “vanius excogitatum,” App. Mag. p. 300, 41: “praecavere vanissime,” Tert. Pud. 1.
