earnest Hear it!

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earnest1 definition

ear·nest (ʉr′nist)

adjective

  1. serious and intense; not joking or playful; zealous and sincere
  2. not petty or trivial; important

Etymology: ME ernest < OE eornoste < eornost, earnestness, zeal, akin to Ger ernst, seriousness (OHG ernust) < IE base *er-, to set oneself in motion, arouse > run

Related Forms:

earnest Idioms

in earnest

  1. serious; not joking
  2. in a serious or determined manner
earnest2 definition

ear·nest (ʉr′nist)

noun

  1. money given as a part payment and pledge in binding a bargain
    in full earnest money
  2. something given or done as an indication or assurance of what is to come; token

Etymology: altered (after earnest) < ME ernes < OFr erres < L arrae, pl. of arra, arrabo, earnest money < Gr arrabōn < Heb eravon < arav, to guarantee, pledge

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms earnest idiom

earnest Synonyms

earnest

modif.

  1. Zealous

    sincere, determined, heartfelt, warm; see diligent, enthusiastic 2, 3.

  2. Solemn

    serious, grave, sober, weighty; see solemn 1. See syn. study at serious.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

earnest Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • give: The protector about this time gave a commendable earnest of his resolution to assert rigorous justice against offenders.

Adjective modifier

  • deadly: She turned to look at me her face had an expression of deadly earnest.

Modifies a noun

  • entreaty: Wherefore, having laid down his life for the Lord, he maketh earnest entreaty in behalf of our souls.

Modifying Another Word

  • painfully: There was no mistaking his astonishing sincerity, his painfully earnest endeavor to impart to her some rather unusual id.. .

Used with adjective complement

  • become: His preaching became earnest, didactic, experimental, and pastoral.

Preposition: of

  • spirit: Doesn't Ephesians 1 say we have the earnest of the Spirit?
earnest usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

earnest quotes

   Prince Albert†discovered the impotence of being earnest.

-Cannadine, David

   What is our life? a play of passion; Our mirth the music of division; Our mothers' wombs the tiring-houses be Where we are dressed for this short comedy. Heaven the judicious sharp spectator is, That sits and marks still who doth act amiss; Our graves that hide us from the searching sun Are like drawn curtains when the play is done. Thus march we, playing, to our latest rest, Only we die in earnestöthat's no jest.

-Raleigh, Sir Walter

I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors.

-Thoreau, Henry David

earnest quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"earnest." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/earnest>

APA Style

earnest. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/earnest

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