earnest: Meaning and Definition of

ear•nest

Pronunciation: (ûr'nist), [key]
— adj.
  1. serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker.
  2. showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words; an earnest entreaty.
  3. seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.
—n.
  1. full seriousness, as of intention or purpose: to speak in earnest.

ear•nest

Pronunciation: (ûr'nist), [key]
— n.
  1. a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.
  2. See
  3. anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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