Where does “vain” come from?

vain (Finnish) comes from Finnish vajaa, from Proto-Finnic vajaga — necessary, needed.

vain (Finnish): only, merely, exclusively, solely, just; ever; An...

Definitions

  1. only, merely, exclusively, solely, just; ever; An...

Ancestry of “vain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishvajaanot full; partial, incomplete; shy; mentally...
2Proto-Finnicvajaganecessary, needed

Words derived from “vain

Every word from Proto-Finnic vajagaEvery word from Finnish vajaa
vain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer