Vanter

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Characterized by the act of boasting or bragging, often in a playful or competitive manner
2. Describing the behavior of engaging in light-hearted, often exaggerated self-promotion or tall-tales
3. Referring to the playful exchange of clever remarks or humorous boasts among friends or peers

Etymology: In Latin, "vanus" meant "empty," "idle," or "without substance." Late Latin built "vanitare" from it, meaning to make empty or to treat as worthless, and Old French turned this into "vanter," which came to mean bragging about oneself. English took the verb "vaunt" from that French word, and the noun is formed by adding the agent suffix "-er" to the verb, producing someone who vaunts. The boaster and the vain person therefore share a root. "Vain" comes from the same Latin "vanus," reaching English through Old French, so the idea of emptiness runs behind both the self-admiring person and the self-admiring attitude.