eitel

vain

adjective EYE-tel Rare

Usage Note

eitel describes excessive concern with one's looks or image, as in ein eitler Schauspieler. Note the dropped 'e' when inflected: ein eitler Mann. An archaic sense means 'mere' or 'pure'.

Examples

"Er ist zu eitel für eine Brille."

Natural Translation

He is too vain for glasses.

Literal Translation

He is too vain for a pair-of-glasses.

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