1. adj. & n.
--adj. ardently or intensely serious; zealous; not trifling or joking.
--n. seriousness.
Phrases and idioms:
in (or in real) earnest serious(ly), not joking(ly); with determination.
Derivatives:
earnestly adv. earnestness n.
Etymology: OE eornust, eornost (with Gmc cognates): cf. ON ern vigorous 2. 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).
Etymology: ME ernes, prob. var. of erles, arles prob. f. med.L arrhula (unrecorded) f. arr(h)a pledge