Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Earnest?

\Ear"nest\, n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. ? to excite, L. oriri to rise.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. --Sir P. Sidney. And given in earnest what I begged in jest. --Shak. {In earnest}, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.
\Ear"nest\, a. 1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers. An earnest advocate to plead for him. --Shak. 2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention. 3. Serious; important. [Obs.] They whom earnest lets do often hinder. --Hooker. Syn: Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See {Eager}.
\Ear"nest\, v. t. To use in earnest. [R.] To earnest them [our arms] with men. --Pastor Fido (1602).
\Ear"nest\, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. [=e]r[=a]v[=o]n; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. {Arles}, {Earles penny}.] 1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. --2 Cor. i. 22. And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death. --Shak. 2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. --Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin. {Earnest money} (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale. Syn: {Earnest}, {Pledge}. Usage: These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.