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Definition earnest

Etymology 1

From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”). Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic ?????? (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”).

The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).

Noun

earnest (uncountable)

1. Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
2. Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)

Verb

earnest (third-person singular simple present earnests, present participle earnesting, simple past and past participle earnested)

1. (transitive) To be serious with; use in earnest.

Adjective

earnest (comparative earnester or more earnest, superlative earnestest or most earnest)

1. Serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.
2. (with a positive sense) Focused in the pursuit of an objective; eager to obtain or do.
3. Intent; fixed closely.
4. Possessing or characterised by seriousness; strongly bent; intent.
5. Strenuous; diligent.
6. Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; not trifling or feigned; important.

Etymology 2

Of uncertain origin; apparently related to erres. Compare also arles.

Noun

earnest (plural earnests)

1. A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.

Etymology 3

earn +‎ -est

Verb

earnest

1. (archaic) second-person singular simple present form of earn

Results 331 Words with the letters EARNEST

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