Table of Contents
The word for today is…
vanity (noun, adjective) -
noun
1: inflated pride in oneself or one's appearance : conceit
2: something that is vain, empty, or valueless
3a: dressing table
b: a bathroom cabinet containing a sink and usually having a countertop
4: the quality or fact of being vain
5: a fashionable trifle or knickknack
6: a small case or handbag for toilet articles used by women
adjective
1: of, relating to, or being a work (such as a book or recording) whose production cost is paid by the author or artist
2: of, relating to, or being a showcase for a usually famous performer or artist who is often also the project's creator or driving force
Source : Merriam-Webster
Etymology : People often turn to the dictionary in search of the minute and subtle differences between two similar words. The closely related duo of vanity and pride, which overlap significantly in some respects yet differ in others, offer one such example. Putting aside such uses as pride referring to “a company of lions” and vanity meaning “a dressing table,” each of these words may refer to a state of excessive self-esteem. However, pride may also signify a feeling of satisfaction or happiness (either in oneself or on behalf of others) based on something that is well done; vanity is unlikely to be used in this manner. For a well-worded explanation of this distinction, we might look to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, in which the character Mary opines: “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”
If you enjoyed this Good Oil word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.
