26 results for: Earnest

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ear·nest1

–adjective

1.	serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker.

2.	showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words; an earnest entreaty.

3.	seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.

–noun

4.	full seriousness, as of intention or purpose: to speak in earnest.

[Origin: bef. 1000; ME erneste, OE eornoste (adj.); ME ernest, OE eornost (n.); c. D, G ernest

]

—Related forms

ear·nest·ly, adverb

ear·nest·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. fervent, intent, purposeful, determined, industrious, ambitious. Earnest, resolute, serious, sincere imply having qualities of depth and firmness. Earnest implies having a purpose and being steadily and soberly eager in pursuing it: an earnest student. Resolute adds a quality of determination: resolute in defending the right. Serious implies having depth and a soberness of attitude that contrasts with gaiety and frivolity; it may include the qualities of both earnestness and resolution: serious and thoughtful. Sincere suggests genuineness, trustworthiness, and absence of superficiality: a sincere interest in music.

—Antonyms 1. frivolous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Earnest

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ear·nest2

Audio Help [ur-nist] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.

2.	Law. earnest money.

3.	anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.

[Origin: 1175–1225; ME ernes(t), alter. of OF erres, pl. of erre earnest money < L arr(h)a short for arr(h)abō (perh. by taking -bō as a future tense ending) < Gk arrhabn < Sem (cf. Heb ʿérābhōn security, pledge). Cf. arras²

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ear·nest¹ Audio Help (ûr'nĭst) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness: an earnest gesture of goodwill.
Of an important or weighty nature; grave. See Synonyms at serious.

[Middle English ernest, from Old English eornoste; see er-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

ear'nest·ly adv., ear'nest·ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ear·nest² Audio Help (ûr'nĭst) Pronunciation Key
n.

Money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain.
A token of something to come; a promise or an assurance.

[Middle English ernest, variant of ernes, alteration of Old French erres, pl. of erre, pledge, from Latin arra, alteration of arrabō, from Greek arrabōn, earnest-money, of Canaanite origin; see ʕrb in Semitic roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
earnest

O.E. eornoste (adj.) from a noun eornost "passion, zeal" (surviving only in the phrase in earnest), from P.Gmc. *ern "vigor, briskness" (cf. O.H.G. arnust "struggle," Goth. arniba "safely," O.N. jarna "fight, combat") The proper name Ernest (lit. "resolute") is from the same root.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

earnest
adjective
1.	characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions; "both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message"
2.	earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences" [syn: dear]
3.	not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal [syn: businesslike]
noun
1.	something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

earnest

see in earnest.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
earnest1 [ˈəːnist] adjective

serious or over-serious
Example: an earnest student; She wore an earnest expression.

Arabic:	جادُّ، جدّي
Chinese (Simplified):	认真的
Chinese (Traditional):	認真的
Czech:	vážný
Danish:	seriøs; alvorlig
Dutch:	ernstig
Estonian:	tõsine
Finnish:	totinen
French:	sérieux
German:	ernst
Greek:	σοβαρός
Hungarian:	komoly
Icelandic:	alvarlegur, einlægur
Indonesian:	serius
Italian:	serio

Japanese:	まじめな
Korean:	진지한
Latvian:	nopietns
Lithuanian:	rimtas, stropus
Norwegian:	alvorlig, alvorlig bekymret; maurflittig
Polish:	poważny, przejęty
Portuguese (Brazil):	sério
Portuguese (Portugal):	sério
Romanian:	serios
Russian:	серьёзный
Slovak:	vážny
Slovenian:	resen
Spanish:	serio
Swedish:	allvarlig, uppriktig
Turkish:	ciddî, ağırbaşlı

earnest2 [ˈəːnist] adjective

showing determination, sincerity or strong feeling
Example: He made an earnest attempt to improve his work.

Arabic:	عـاقِد العَزْم
Chinese (Simplified):	诚挚的
Chinese (Traditional):	誠摯的
Czech:	vážný
Danish:	oprigtig; alvorlig
Dutch:	ernstig
Estonian:	tõsimeelne
Finnish:	päättäväinen
French:	sérieux
German:	ernstlich
Greek:	ειλικρινής, αποφασισμένος
Hungarian:	határozott, megfontolt
Icelandic:	alvarlegur, ákveðinn
Indonesian:	sungguh-sungguh
Italian:	serio

Japanese:	真剣な
Korean:	열심인
Latvian:	apņēmīgs; dedzīgs
Lithuanian:	nuoširdus
Norwegian:	oppriktig
Polish:	szczery
Portuguese (Brazil):	sério
Portuguese (Portugal):	sério
Romanian:	serios
Russian:	серьёзный
Slovak:	vážny
Slovenian:	resen
Spanish:	serio
Swedish:	enträgen, nitisk, allvarlig
Turkish:	kararlı, samimî

See also: in earnest

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ear·nest
Pronunciation: '&r-n&st
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French ernes(t) erles, alteration of Old French erres, plural of erre pledge, earnest, alteration of Latin arra, short for arrabo, from Greek arrhabOn, of Semitic origin
: something of value given by a buyer to a seller to bind a bargain

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Ea"ger\, a. [OE. egre sharp, sour, eager, OF. agre, aigre, F. aigre, fr. L. acer sharp, sour, spirited, zealous; akin to Gr. ? highest, extreme, Skr. a?ra point; fr. a root signifying to be sharp. Cf. Acrid, Edge.]

1. Sharp; sour; acid. [Obs.] "Like eager droppings into milk." --Shak.

2. Sharp; keen; bitter; severe. [Obs.] "A nipping and an eager air." "Eager words." --Shak.

3. Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.

And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes. --Shak.

How eagerly ye follow my disgraces! --Shak.

When to her eager lips is brought Her infant's thrilling kiss. --Keble.

A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys. --Hawthorne.

Conceit and grief an eager combat fight. --Shak.

4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [Obs.]

Gold will be sometimes so eager, as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself. --Locke.

Syn: Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense; impassioned; zealous; forward.

Usage: See Earnest. -- Eager, Earnest. Eager marks an excited state of desire or passion; thus, a child is eager for a plaything, a hungry man is eager for food, a covetous man is eager for gain. Eagerness is liable to frequent abuses, and is good or bad, as the case may be. It relates to what is praiseworthy or the contrary. Earnest denotes a permanent state of mind, feeling, or sentiment. It is always taken in a good sense; as, a preacher is earnest in his appeals to the conscience; an agent is earnest in his solicitations.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

1. Sharp; sour; acid. [Obs.] "Like eager droppings into milk." --Shak.

2. Sharp; keen; bitter; severe. [Obs.] "A nipping and an eager air." "Eager words." --Shak.

3. Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue, perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous; impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.

And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes. --Shak.

How eagerly ye follow my disgraces! --Shak.

When to her eager lips is brought Her infant's thrilling kiss. --Keble.

A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys. --Hawthorne.

Conceit and grief an eager combat fight. --Shak.

4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [Obs.]

Gold will be sometimes so eager, as artists call it, that it will as little endure the hammer as glass itself. --Locke.

Syn: Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense; impassioned; zealous; forward.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Earles" pen`ny\ [Cf. Arles, 4th Earnest.] Earnest money. Same as Arles penny. [Obs.]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Ear"nest\, n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. ? to excite, L. oriri to rise.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.

Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. --Sir P. Sidney.

And given in earnest what I begged in jest. --Shak.

In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Ear"nest\, a. 1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers.

An earnest advocate to plead for him. --Shak.

2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.

3. Serious; important. [Obs.]

They whom earnest lets do often hinder. --Hooker.

Syn: Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Ear"nest\, v. t. To use in earnest. [R.]

To earnest them [our arms] with men. --Pastor Fido (1602).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Ear"nest\, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. [=e]r[=a]v[=o]n; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. Arles, Earles penny.]

1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. --2 Cor. i. 22.

And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death. --Shak.

2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. --Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin.

Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn: Earnest, Pledge.

Usage: These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. --2 Cor. i. 22.

And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death. --Shak.

2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. --Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin.

Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn: Earnest, Pledge.

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Earnest

Er"nest\, n. See Earnest. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

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Earnest

Er"nest*ful\, a. [See Earnest, a.] Serious. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

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Earnest

Ar"rha\, n.; pl. Arrh[ae]. [L. Cf. Earnest.] (Law) Money or other valuable thing given to evidence a contract; a pledge or earnest.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Pledge\, n. [OF. plege, pleige, pledge, guaranty, LL. plegium, plivium; akin to OF. plevir to bail, guaranty, perhaps fr. L. praebere to proffer, offer (sc. fidem a trust, a promise of security), but cf. also E. play. [root]28. Cf. Prebend, Replevin.]

1. (Law) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between the debtor and creditor by a thing being so delivered or deposited, forming a species of bailment; also, that which is so delivered or deposited; something put in pawn.

Note: Pledge is ordinarily confined to personal property; the title or ownership does not pass by it; possession is essential to it. In all these points it differs from a mortgage [see Mortgage]; and in the last, from the hypotheca of the Roman law. See Hypotheca. --Story. Kent.

2. (Old Eng. Law) A person who undertook, or became responsible, for another; a bail; a surety; a hostage. "I am Grumio's pledge." --Shak.

3. A hypothecation without transfer of possession.

4. Anything given or considered as a security for the performance of an act; a guarantee; as, mutual interest is the best pledge for the performance of treaties. "That voice, their liveliest pledge of hope." --Milton.

5. A promise or agreement by which one binds one's self to do, or to refrain from doing, something; especially, a solemn promise in writing to refrain from using intoxicating liquors or the like; as, to sign the pledge; the mayor had made no pledges.

6. A sentiment to which assent is given by drinking one's health; a toast; a health.

Dead pledge. [A translation of LL. mortuum vadium.] (Law) A mortgage. See Mortgage.

Living pledge. [A translation of LL. vivum vadium.] (Law) The conveyance of an estate to another for money borrowed, to be held by him until the debt is paid out of the rents and profits.

To hold in pledge, to keep as security.

To put in pledge, to pawn; to give as security.

Syn: See Earnest.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

Sub`ar*ra"tion\, n. [Pref. sub- + L. arra, arrha, earnest money. See Earnest a pledge.] The ancient custom of betrothing by the bestowal, on the part of the man, of marriage gifts or tokens, as money, rings, or other presents, upon the woman.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Earnest

The Spirit is the earnest of the believer's destined inheritance (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14). The word thus rendered is the same as that rendered "pledge" in Gen. 38:17-20; "indeed, the Hebrew word has simply passed into the Greek and Latin languages, probably through commercial dealings with the Phoenicians, the great trading people of ancient days. Originally it meant no more than a pledge; but in common usage it came to denote that particular kind of pledge which is a part of the full price of an article paid in advance; and as it is joined with the figure of a seal when applied to the Spirit, it seems to be used by Paul in this specific sense." The Spirit's gracious presence and working in believers is a foretaste to them of the blessedness of heaven. God is graciously pleased to give not only pledges but foretastes of future blessedness.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

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EARNEST

EARNEST: in Acronym Finder

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