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earnest

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earnest

 

  6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Earnest  \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}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Earnest  \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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Earnest  \Ear"nest\,  v.  t. 
  To  use  in  earnest.  [R.] 
 
  To  earnest  them  [our  arms]  with  men.  --Pastor  Fido 
  (1602). 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Earnest  \Ear"nest\,  n.  [Prob.  corrupted  fr  F.  arrhes  L.  arra, 
  arrha,  arrhabo  Gr  'arrabw`n,  of  Semitic  origin,  cf  Heb. 
  [=e]r[=a]v[=o]n;  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}. 
 
  Usage:  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  earnest 
  adj  1:  characterized  by  firm  belief  in  the  validity  of  your 
  opinions;  "both  sides  were  deeply  in  earnest,  even 
  passionate";  "an  entirely  sincere  and  cruel  tyrant"; 
  "a  solemn  vow"  [syn:  {in  earnest(p)},  {sincere},  {solemn}] 
  2:  earnest;  "one's  dearest  wish";  "devout  wishes  for  their 
  success";  "heartfelt  condolences"  [syn:  {dear},  {devout}, 
  {heartfelt}] 
  3:  not  distracted  by  anything  unrelated  to  the  goal  [syn:  {businesslike}] 
  n  :  something  of  value  given  by  one  person  to  another  to  bind  a 
  contract 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Earnest 
  The  Spirit  is  the  earnest  of  the  believer's  destined  inheritance 
  (2  Cor.  1:22;  5:5;  Eph.  1:14).  The  word  thus  rendered  is  the 
  same  as  that  rendered  pledge"  in  Gen.  38:17-20;  "indeed,  the 
  Hebrew  word  has  simply  passed  into  the  Greek  and  Latin 
  languages,  probably  through  commercial  dealings  with  the 
  Phoenicians,  the  great  trading  people  of  ancient  days. 
  Originally  it  meant  no  more  than  a  pledge;  but  in  common  usage 
  it  came  to  denote  that  particular  kind  of  pledge  which  is  a  part 
  of  the  full  price  of  an  article  paid  in  advance;  and  as  it  is 
  joined  with  the  figure  of  a  seal  when  applied  to  the  Spirit,  it 
  seems  to  be  used  by  Paul  in  this  specific  sense."  The  Spirit's 
  gracious  presence  and  working  in  believers  is  a  foretaste  to 
  them  of  the  blessedness  of  heaven.  God  is  graciously  pleased  to 
  give  not  only  pledges  but  foretastes  of  future  blessedness.




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