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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Try in vain #95739 02/16/03 12:33 AM Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 20 S suededevil OP stranger OP suededevil stranger S Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 20 hi everyone.I'd like to post another burden bared in my mind for ages: Try in vain Does this phrase reveal a negative outcome or just mean "try my best" or " i've done as humanly possible as i could" ? thanks for helping me so much in these few days! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Try in vain #95740 02/16/03 12:42 AM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont it would mean a negative outcome. you tried, but unsuccessfully. one might naturally assume that you tried your best, but that's not necessary for it to be in vain. formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Try in vain #95741 02/16/03 12:57 AM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 W wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 I agree with etaoin about "try in vain". But one usage that still puzzles me a bit it the Biblical injunction "Thous shalt not take the bame of the Lord in vain." I have a hazy recollection of reading many years ago that it prohibited using the name of the Lord in cursing, as "God damn you!" I ;have been unable to find substantiation for "vain" having etymological association with "wehen", German for "wind". Edit: I just remembered the word "inveigh" Look at its etymology: inveigh vi. 5ME invehen < L invehi, to assail, attack with words, pass. of invehere, to bring in < in3, in, to + vehere, to carry: see VEHEMENT6 to make a violent verbal attack; talk or write bitterly (against); rail Brewer says:To take God's name in vain. To use it profanely, thoughtlessly, or irreverently. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Try in vain #95742 02/16/03 01:18 AM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont I think it has connection with "vanity"; so as to not say it for personal gain. a thought anyway... formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Try in vain #95743 02/16/03 01:48 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky thanks for helping me so much in these few days! You're welcome, Sweetie. Yes, if you try in vain, you do not succeed. How hard you try has nothing to do with it. We have a saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". This is to inspire one to continue the effort and not to give up. But sometimes the second, third, and nth. attempts are still in vain. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Try in vain #95744 02/16/03 02:56 AM Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,189 Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,189 Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... If you use God's name "in vain", as a curse or profanity, then you are using His name contrary to it's nature (as in prayer or to summon healing or soothing energies). Therefore, you're "taking the Lord's name in vain," empty and devoid of it's Lordly purpose. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,913 Posts229,372 Members9,182 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV 9,182 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 members (), 381 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 28 A C Bowden 25 LukeJavan8 3 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 10,561 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,919 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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