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

ear·nest 1 (ûr'nĭst) adj.
[Middle English ernest, from Old English eornoste; see er-1 in Indo-European roots.] ear'nest·ly adv., ear'nest·ness n. |