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earnest

 - 8 dictionary results

ear⋅nest

1  [ur-nist]
Use earnest in a Sentence
–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.

ear⋅nest

2  [ur-nist]
–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 ʿērābhōn security, pledge). Cf. arras 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To earnest
ear·nest 1   (ûr'nĭst)   
adj.  

  1. Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness: an earnest gesture of goodwill.

  2. 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.
ear·nest 2   (ûr'nĭst)   
n.  

  1. Money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain.

  2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

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
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Bible Dictionary

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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Idioms & Phrases

earnest

see in earnest.

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