earnestness en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈɝnɪstnəs/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˈɜːnɪstnəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree English earnest Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English earnestness From earnest + -ness.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) The quality of being earnest; sincerity; seriousness.
22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Gameshttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/ She’s joined, on the boys’ side, by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), a baker’s son whose earnestness masks a gift for strategy that Katniss lacks.
She spoke with great earnestness about the issue.
sincere earnestness
with complete earnestness
quiet earnestness
His youthful earnestness impressed the audience.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| earnestnesses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (3)
el φιλότιμο (quality of being earnest) · grc σπουδαιότης (quality of being earnest) · el ειλικρίνεια (quality of being earnest)