n. 1 money paid as an instalment, esp. to confirm a contract etc. 2 a token or foretaste (in earnest of what is to come). [ME ernes, prob. var. of erles, arles prob. f. med.L arrhula (unrecorded) f. arr(h)a pledge]
EARNEST
Meaning of EARNEST in English
English main colloquial, spoken dictionary. Английский основной разговорный словарь. 2012