earnest Hear it!

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.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.