Forms: 1 eorneste, 3, 6 ernest, (3 ernexst), 5 ernyst (? 7 earst), 6– earnest. [OE. eorneste, f. EARNEST sb.1; in ME. no unequivocal examples have been found; perh. the word died out in OE., and was afterwards developed afresh from the attrib. use of the sb.]
1. Of persons: Serious, as opposed to trifling; usually in emphatic sense, intensely serious, gravely impassioned, in any purpose, feeling, conviction or action; sincerely zealous. Of feelings, convictions, etc.: Intense, ardent. Of actions or words: Proceeding from or implying intensity of feeling or conviction.
In mod. use the word tends to exclude the notion of ungoverned or violent feeling, which in some earlier examples is prominent; cf. quot. 1670 under EARNESTNESS.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom. (Thorpe), I. 386. Mid eornestum mode.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26351. Clene and reuful … stedfast, ernexst, willi [? read ernest-willi].
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2713. The ernyst speche … of Elinus the Bysshop.
15[?]. R. Weaver, Lusty Juv., in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 99. Of an earnest professor of Christs Gospel Thou madest me an hypocrite.
1563. Man, trans. Musculus’ Common Pl., 372 a. Neyther our meaning is to make anye earnest or curiouse searche thereof.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Agricola (1598), 186. Being yoong hee had addicted himselfe to the study of Philosophie in earnester sort.
1591. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 316. My tongue should stumble in mine earnest words.
1593. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., II. i. (1611), 54. An earnest longing desire to see things brought to a peaceable end.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 87. I neuer did incense his Maiestie Against the Duke of Clarence, but haue bin An earnest aduocate to plead for him.
1611. Bible, Heb. ii. 1. We ought to giue the more earnest heede to the things which we haue heard.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., Flatterer (1633), G 1 a–b. His chiding may seeme but the earnester commendation.
1658. Dekker, etc. Witch Edmont., III. i. Wks. 1873, IV. 391. I’ll not turn from it, if you be earst Sir.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxiii. (1789), 189. The good lady … was very earnest in serving me of every thing.
1793. Southey, Triumph of Woman, 240. What though her Priests in earnest terror call On all their host of Gods to aid?
1830. D’Israeli, Charles I., III. vi. 114. There was a good deal of earnest impetuosity in his temper.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess. Self-Reliance, Wks. (Bohn), I. 26. All history resolves itself … into the biography of a few stout and earnest persons.
1858. Edin. Rev., No. 217. 183. To [Arnold] … we owe the substitution of the word ‘earnest’ for its predecessor ‘serious.’
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 22. 160. To say one earnest word in connexion with this ascent.
b. Const. for, or inf. Somewhat rare.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 302. The presbyterian faction were earnest to have the army disbanded.
1676. Temple, Lett., in Wks. 1731, II. 420. The Swede is earnest for a Peace.
1853. Arab. Nts., 377. Saony,… was earnest with the King to give the signal to the executioner.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. I. v. 61. Caraffa [was] earnest to introduce the inquisition.
c. transf.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr. (1858), 166. For the Earth, I say, is an earnest place.
18[?]. Longf., Psalm of Life. Life is real, life is earnest.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling. The Bible, most earnest of books.
d. Comb. earnest-hearted, -mild adjs.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Poems, II. 409. Yet if a little maid, or child, Should sigh within it, earnest-mild, This reed will answer evermore.
1860. Sat. Rev., IX. 53/2. A thoroughly good and earnest-hearted man.
† 2. Of animals: Excited. Obs. rare.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., i. (1623), C ij. And if they [bees] be so earnest that you feare stinging your hands, put on a paire of woollen cuffes or gloues.
3. Of things: Demanding serious consideration; weighty, important.
1544. Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 26. We scholers have more ernest and weightie matters in hand.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xxv. 180. Sir Charles had earnest business in town.
