earn

1 [urn]
verb (used with object)
1.
to gain or get in return for one's labor or service: to earn one's living.
2.
to merit as compensation, as for service; deserve: to receive more than one has earned.
3.
to acquire through merit: to earn a reputation for honesty.
4.
to gain as due return or profit: Savings accounts earn interest.
5.
to bring about or cause deservedly: His fair dealing earned our confidence.
verb (used without object)
6.
to gain income: securities that earn on a quarterly basis.
00:10
Earn is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English ern(i)en, Old English earnian; akin to Old High German arnēn to earn, harvest

earn·er, noun


1. procure, make, receive, obtain. See gain1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

earn

2 [urn]
verb (used without object) Obsolete.
to grieve.

Origin:
1570–80; perhaps variant of yearn

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
earn (ɜːn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to gain or be paid (money or other payment) in return for work or service
2.  (tr) to acquire, merit, or deserve through behaviour or action: he has earned a name for duplicity
3.  (tr) (of securities, investments, etc) to gain (interest, return, profit, etc)
 
[Old English earnian; related to Old High German arnēn to reap, Old Saxon asna salary, tithe]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

earn
O.E. earnian "get a reward for labor," from W.Gmc. *aznojanan, from *aznu "work, labor" (cf. O.H.G. aran, Ger. Ernte "harvest," Goth. asans "harvest, summer," O.N. önn "work in the field"). Related to O.E. esne "serf." Related: Earned; earning.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

EARN definition

networking
European Academic and Research Network.
(1995-11-15)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

earn

In addition to the idioms beginning with earn, also see penny saved is a penny earned.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Forever best manipulating remedy to cheat the people and earn the money.
Thinking the money you earn is due to your efforts and your efforts alone
  verges on delusions-of-grandeur.
How much money people make has a lot to do with how educated they are, but
  sometimes less-educated people earn more.
It has encouraged schemes for single mothers to earn money.
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