transitive verb

1. to receive (salary, wages, etc.) for one's labor or service
2. to get or deserve as a result of something one has done
3. to gain (interest, etc.) as profit

Etymology: ME ernen < OE earnian, to gain, labor for, lit., to harvest, akin to Ger ernte, harvest, OHG arnōn, to bring to harvest < IE base *es-en, summer, harvest time