Vtune: meaning of the word, examples of use, synonyms

The word "in vain" is used quite rarely in modern Russian. However, it means certain aspects of a person’s state. Sometimes it can be found in literary works.

The answer to the meaning of the word “in vain” and the possibilities of its use in modern speech served as the topic of this article.

Remained, lost dream in vain

Sometimes it seems to impressionable people that their dream is like a butterfly that cannot spread its wings: too heavy a load prevents it from flipping carelessly. Her efforts are in vain, they remain in vain.

So, in vain, a word meaning futile, futile efforts. As well as dreams or hopes.

In literature, the word "in vain" was used quite widely by the classics.

I know that I am preaching in vain, but this is my destiny. A.S. Pushkin, "The novel in letters", 1826.

Or, as Nagibin writes in the novel Darkness at the End of the Tunnel:

Why, someone else’s experience is always lost in vain.

Judging by the quotes from the books, the word "in vain" was used twice with the verb. Why?

Vtune: the meaning of the word as part of speech

From Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary, it is clear that “in vain” is an adverb, similar in meaning to the words in vain, in vain, without use or without need.

In turn, an adverb in the Russian language is that part of speech that answers the question "how?" and:

1. indicates a sign of action (to go - quickly, slowly, barely);
2. a sign of a physical condition (it doesn’t hurt at all, it hurts so much);
3. a sign of another sign (extremely funny);
4. much less often indicates a sign of an object (hard-boiled eggs, soft-boiled eggs).

Therefore, the word "in vain", being an adverb, is not used independently in a book or in colloquial speech; explanatory words are required for it.

But all attempts turned out to be in vain, and some of the seekers were forced to break away even with a comic and shameful denouement due to the firm and mocking rebuff from the characteristic young lady. F.M. Dostoevsky, "The Brothers Karamazov"

When to use a book word

“Vtune” arose by merging the old phrase “v tune” - in vain, for nothing (from the adjective “tun” - free of charge). By the way, the modern word "parasite" is also formed by this adjective.

According to the information from Vasmer’s etymological dictionary, traces of the word “in vain” are found in other ancient Slavic languages:

• in Bulgarian - tun (false);
• in Polish-Silesian - tuni (cheap, publicly available);
• in ancient Slovenian - stunia (loafer).

To say or write correctly, you can use the adverb "in vain", for example, in a similar way:

• the works remained in vain;
• dreams remained in vain;
• talent dies in vain;
• natural wealth lies in vain.

Also, and vice versa, a negative statement applies to this adverb:

• efforts did not remain in vain;
• he applied his knowledge in time, they did not disappear in vain.

The expression "build a castle on the sand" is very similar in meaning to the vain efforts that mean "in vain."

However, in ordinary speech, most likely, instead of the word "in vain" they will use other words, such as such as "in vain", "useless" and other dialects similar in meaning.

Since “in vain” sounds rather pathetic and majestic, it remains more like a book word than a colloquial one.

Synonyms of "in vain"

So that the desire to learn Russian better does not remain "in vain", the words synonyms will help to preserve its meaning and accurately express the thought:

• to no avail;
• for nothing;
• in vain;
• useless;
• in vain (in vain);
• for nothing;
• in vain;
• idle;
• aimlessly;
• to no avail;
• for free;
• not fair;
• for no reason at all;
• unnecessarily;
• idle;
• a dog under the tail;
• undeservedly and others.