An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/vergebens

by Friedrich Kluge

vergebens, adverb, ‘in vain, to no purpose,’ from Middle High German vergëbene (-gëbenes), ‘gratis, in vain’; allied to vergëben (Old High German firgëban), ‘useless, to no purpose,’ literally ‘given away,’ a participle used as an adjective —