Ear"nest , 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.
Who
hath also sealed us, and given
the earnest of the Spirit
in our hearts.
2
Cor. i. 22.
And from his coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death.
Shak.
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.
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.
Ear"nest , v. t. To use in earnest. [R.]
To earnest them [our arms] with men.
Pastor Fido (1602).
Ear"nest , 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.
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
Shak. 2.
Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
3. Serious; important.
[Obs.]
They whom earnest lets do often hinder.
Hooker. Syn. --
Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate;
fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.
Ear"nest (?), n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. &?; to excite, L. oriri to rise.]
Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
Take heed that this jest do not one day turn
to earnest.
Sir
P. Sidney. And given in
earnest what I begged in jest.
Shak. In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.
Hear it pronounced