Dictionary

earnest en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈɝ.nɪst/ (General-American)
• /ˈɜː.nɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”). Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌹𐌱𐌰 (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”). The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).

Meanings

1. (said of an action or an utterance) Serious, sincere, ingenuous.
2. (with a positive sense) Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.
   • earnest prayers
3. Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.
   • earnest attention
4. (said of a person or a person's character) Possessing or characterised by seriousness.
   • an earnest disposition
5. Strenuous; diligent.
   • earnest efforts
6. Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; important.

Forms

Deriveds

earnesty · earnestness · in earnest · unearnest · overearnest · earnestly

Synonyms

unfaked · undissembled · grave · high on the totem pole · solemncholy · pukka · frightful · telic · concentrated · historic · somber · hardworking · unadulterated · legitimate · life-or-death · earnest · key · fateful · vital · extraordinary · saturnine · notable · legit · intensive · industrious · thoughtful · assiduous · diligent · valuable · dogged · fatesome · focused · authentic · real · painstaking · actual · remarkable · sweer · noticeable · fatefraught · austere · lubish · non-fake · central · sage · significant · sterling · serious · weighty · necessary · stern · consequential · sad · heavy · genuine · demure · painstaking · staid · bona fide · centered · worksome · salient · veritable · critical · outstanding · meaningful · unignorable · grave · relevant · unfeigned · intensive · crucial · essential · true · authentic · sedate · innegligible · uncounterfeited · studious · inspissated · big · weighty · paramount · intent · observable · sober · pivotal · grievous · weightsome · pertinent · sombre · epochful · historic · sedulous · noted · solemn · lack-laughter

Translations (88)

uk серйозний (important, serious) · uk ревний (ardent) · pt sério (important, serious) · tr hevesli (ardent) · fr ardent (ardent) · cy taer (intent) · ru уси́ленный (intent) · hu buzgó (ardent) · gl rexo (important, serious) · it voglioso (ardent) · cs seriózní (important, serious) · bg задълбочен (intent) · de ernsthaft (important, serious) · pt sincero (important, serious) · ru ре́вностный (ardent) · cy taer (ardent) · ro serios (important, serious) · ca zelós (ardent) · ro hotărât (intent) · la avidus (ardent) · ca amatent (intent) · de intensiv (intent) · gl guicho (intent) · tr coşkun (ardent) · it zelante (ardent) · ro arzător (ardent) · ro decis (intent) · ja 真剣 (important, serious) · tr ciddi (important, serious) · uk палкий (ardent) · gl teixo (important, serious) · gl séreo (important, serious) · cmn 沉重 (important, serious) · it grave (important, serious) · be сур'ёзны (important, serious) · bg добросъвестен (ardent) · fr grave (important, serious) · hu komoly (important, serious) · de leidenschaftlich (ardent) · hu súlyos (important, serious) · la sērius (important, serious) · pt sério (ardent) · cmn 熱心 /热心 (ardent) · ar جَدِّي (important, serious) · ro ferm (intent) · ga dáiríre (important, serious) · ro înfocat (ardent) · tr şevkli (ardent) · fr sérieux (important, serious) · cmn 嚴重 /严重 (important, serious) · ru серьёзный (important, serious) · gl grave (ardent) · sa उशिज् (ardent) · es encarecido (important, serious) · gl sesgo (important, serious) · tr niyetli (intent) · cy taer (important, serious) · ca fervent (ardent) · de aufrichtig (important, serious) · cmn 認真 /认真 (important, serious) · grc σπουδαῖος (ardent) · sh vážan (important, serious) · bg сериозен (ardent) · gl sesgo (ardent) · it pressante (intent) · es encarecido (intent) · ca seriós (important, serious) · sh ȍzbīljan (important, serious) · gl entergo (ardent) · gl enfexo (intent) · pdt drinjent (ardent) · ja 本気 (important, serious) · cs vážný (important, serious) · de sehnsüchtig (ardent) · it serio (important, serious) · it fervente (ardent) · eo serioza (important, serious) · bg сериозен (important, serious) · ja 真面目 (important, serious) · ro aprins (ardent) · ru убедительный (important, serious) · sh znȁčājan (important, serious) · it desideroso (ardent) · ca amatent (ardent) · ga dúthrachtach (intent) · es encarecido (ardent) · de ernst (important, serious) · ar جَادّ (important, serious)

earnest en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈɝ.nɪst/ (General-American)
• /ˈɜː.nɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”). Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌹𐌱𐌰 (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”). The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
   • Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
   • 1914, February 13, The Times, Obituary: Canon Augustus Jessopp He wrote well in a forcible, colloquial style, with the air of being tremendously in earnest, and full of knowledge which overflowed his pages, tricked out with somewhat boisterous illustrations.
   • That high All-Seer which I dallied with / Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head / And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
2. (uncountable) Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)

Deriveds

earnestful · in earnest

Translations (23)

de Ernst (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · pt seriedade (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · fi vakavuus (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · cs opravdovost (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · grc σπουδαῖος (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · fi vakavuus (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · fr sérieux (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · ca formalitat (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · ca serietat (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · de Ernsthaftigkeit (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · uk серйозність (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · fr gravité (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · uk серйозність (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · bg сериозност (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · grc σπουδαῖος (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · lb Eescht (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · ca gravetat (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · de Ernsthaftigkeit (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · nl ernst (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · ca seriositat (seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance)) · de Ernst (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · lb Eescht (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness) · cs vážnost (gravity; serious purpose; earnestness)

earnest en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈɝ.nɪst/ (General-American)
• /ˈɜː.nɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”). Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌹𐌱𐌰 (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”). The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To be serious with; use in earnest.
   • Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use. 1602, Pastor Fido, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

Forms

earnest en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈɝ.nɪst/ (General-American)
• /ˈɜː.nɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Uncertain; apparently related to erres. Compare also arles.

Meanings

1. A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.
   • The farmer agreed, and in the evening the Dwarf brought him a sack of wheat as an earnest. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 225:
   • As therefore the morning devv, is a pavvne of the evenings fatneſſe, ſo, O Lord, let this daies comfort be the earneſt of to morrowes, […] 1624, John Donne, “19. Prayer”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, page 508:
   • But if all this was viewed by Gladstone and the Cabinet as an earnest of St Petersburg's future good intentions in Central Asia, then disillusionment was soon to follow. 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 365:
   • Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 5:5:
   • The vanity is at once encouraged and gratified; while the present small triumph is too readily taken as earnest for a greater one. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 152–153:

Forms

Relateds

earnest money · Earnest

Translations (19)

es arras (pledge) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌳𐌹 (pledge) · gl coutela (pledge) · apc عربون (pledge) · ca penyora (pledge) · es señal (pledge) · ro acont (pledge) · it pegno (pledge) · apc رعبون (pledge) · gl arras (pledge) · bg депозит (pledge) · ca paga i senyal (pledge) · fa اربون (pledge) · ro arvună (pledge) · gl peñor (pledge) · bg капаро (pledge) · ro avans (pledge) · ru зада́ток (pledge) · ar عَرْبُون (pledge)

earnest en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /ˈɝ.nɪst/ (General-American)
• /ˈɜː.nɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From earn + -est.

Meanings

1. (archaic, form-of, indicative, present, second-person, singular) second-person singular simple present indicative of earn
   form of earn