n. [ AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. 'orny`nai to excite, L. oriri to rise. ] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

An earnest advocate to plead for him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Serious; important. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They whom earnest lets do often hinder. Hooker.

Syn. -- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To use in earnest. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To earnest them [ our arms ] with men. Pastor Fido (1602). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. ērāvōn; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

And from his coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn. -- Earnest, Pledge. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Serious. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an earnest manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being earnest; intentness; anxiety. [ 1913 Webster ]

An honest earnestness in the young man's manner. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]