~ 1 [ 'ə:nɪst ]
■ adjective sincere and very serious.
Phrases
in ~ to a greater extent or more intensely than before.
↘sincere and serious in intention.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE eornoste (adjective), eornost (n.), of Gmc origin.
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~ 2 [ 'ə:nɪst ]
■ noun a sign or promise of what is to come.
Origin
ME ernes , lit. 'instalment paid to confirm a contract', based on OFr. erres , from L. arra , shortened form of arrabo 'a pledge'.