An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/vergebens

by Friedrich Kluge

vergebens, adv., ‘in vain, to no purpose,’ from MidHG. vergëbene (-gëbenes), ‘gratis, in vain’; allied to vergëben (OHG. firgëban), ‘useless, to no purpose,’ lit. ‘given away,’ a partic. used as an adj. —