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earnest: Meaning and Definition of
ear•nest
Pronunciation: (ûr'nist), [key] — adj.
- serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker.
- showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words; an earnest entreaty.
- seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.
—n. - full seriousness, as of intention or purpose: to speak in earnest.
ear•nest
Pronunciation: (ûr'nist), [key] — n.
- a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.
- See
- anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.