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Dictionary / earnest

earnest

/ˈɝ.nɪst/ (General-American)/ˈɜː.nɪst/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • noun
  • verb
  • adjective
  • from Old English

Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “earnest” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun · etymology 1

  1. uncountableGravity; serious purpose; earnestness.

    Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for

  2. uncountableSeriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)
Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

verb · etymology 1

  1. transitiveTo be serious with; use in earnest.

    Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use.1602, Pastor Fido, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

adjective · etymology 1

  1. Serious, sincere, ingenuous.
  2. Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.

    earnest prayers

  3. Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

    earnest attention

  4. Possessing or characterised by seriousness.

    an earnest disposition

  5. Strenuous; diligent.

    earnest efforts

  6. Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; important.
Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

noun · etymology 2

  1. A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.

    Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Corinthians 5:5:

Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (4)
  1. nounsomething of value given by one person to another to bind a contract
  2. adjectivecharacterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions — also: sincere, solemn
  3. adjectiveearnest — also: dear, devout, heartfelt
  4. adjectivenot distracted by anything unrelated to the goal — also: businesslike
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

Etymology 1 (noun, verb, adjective)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)earnest
  2. Middle Englishernest
  3. Old Englisheornest
  4. Proto-Germanic*ernustuz “earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”
  5. Proto-Indo-European*er- “to cause to move, arouse, increase”

From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”).

Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌹𐌱𐌰 (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”).

The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).

Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Etymology 2 (noun)

Uncertain; apparently related to erres. Compare also arles.

Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “earnest”

earnestfulearnestlyearnestnessearnestyoverearnestunearnest

Phrases & compounds

in earnest

Related terms

Earnestearnest money
Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “earnest” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “earnest” came from before it was English.

Etymology 1 (noun, verb, adjective)

Native English word, from
Old English
Old English eornest
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European *er- “to cause to move, arouse, increase”

Etymology 2 (noun)

The source does not trace this sense to an earlier language.

Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root
“to cause to move, arouse, increase”
Proto-Indo-European *er- — rebuilt by linguists from its descendants; never written down.
Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

earnest 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.]

  1. Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.

earnest 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.
  2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
  3. Serious; important.

earnest v. t.

  1. To use in earnest.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.

Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for

That high All-Seer which I dallied with / Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head / And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest.c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, publis

verbMeaning: To be serious with; use in earnest.

Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use.1602, Pastor Fido, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

adjectiveMeaning: Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.

earnest prayers

adjectiveMeaning: Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

earnest attention

adjectiveMeaning: Possessing or characterised by seriousness.

an earnest disposition

adjectiveMeaning: Strenuous; diligent.

earnest efforts

adjectiveMeaning: characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “earnest” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

earnest

/ˈɝ.nɪst/

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

earnest

/ˈɝ.nɪst/ · noun, verb, adjective

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “earnest” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
2. (noun) Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)
3. (verb) To be serious with; use in earnest.
4. (adjective) Serious, sincere, ingenuous.
5. (adjective) Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“earnest prayers”

A. Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.
B. Serious, sincere, ingenuous.
C. Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

Circle the meaning used.

“earnest attention”

A. Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.
B. Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)
C. Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

Circle the meaning used.

“an earnest disposition”

A. Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)
B. Possessing or characterised by seriousness.
C. To be serious with; use in earnest.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “earnest” come into English from?   A. Old English  B. Ancient Greek  C. Old Norse  D. Medieval Latin

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “earnest” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *er-. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “earnest” to mean: Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
Write a sentence using “earnest” to mean: Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)
Write a sentence using “earnest” to mean: To be serious with; use in earnest.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — earnest

Which meaning, sentence 1: A. Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.

Which meaning, sentence 2: C. Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

Which meaning, sentence 3: B. Possessing or characterised by seriousness.

Origin: A. Old English (Old English eornest)

Journey: English earnest ← Middle English ernest ← Old English eornest ← Proto-Germanic *ernustuz ← Proto-Indo-European *er-

Some derivatives: earnestful, earnestly, earnestness, earnesty, overearnest, unearnest

Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *er- — “to cause to move, arouse, increase”

Etymology: From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”).

Sources: Wiktionary “earnest” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/earnest#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/earnest