earnest1
/
ˈəːnɪst/
adj.
sincere and very serious.
Phrase
Derivative
- earnestly adv.
- earnestness n.
Etymology
OE eornoste (adj.), eornost (n.), of Gmc origin.
earnest2
/
ˈəːnɪst/
n.
a sign or promise of what is to come.
Etymology
ME ernes, lit. ‘instalment paid to confirm a contract’, based on OFr. erres, from L. arra, shortened form of arrabo ‘a pledge’.