Associations to the word «Earnest»

Wiktionary

EARNEST, noun. Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
EARNEST, noun. Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance); fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
EARNEST, verb. (transitive) To be serious with; use in earnest.
EARNEST, adjective. Serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.
EARNEST, adjective. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavour; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; — used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers.
EARNEST, adjective. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
EARNEST, adjective. Possessing or characterised by seriousness; strongly bent; intent.
EARNEST, adjective. Strenuous; diligent.
EARNEST, adjective. Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; not trifling or feigned; important.
EARNEST, noun. A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.
EARNEST, proper noun. A male given name, an occasional spelling variant of Ernest.
EARNEST MONEY, noun. Money paid as a deposit to show intent to buy or to reserve an item to be purchased; especially, money accompanying an offer to buy real estate.

Dictionary definition

EARNEST, noun. Something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract.
EARNEST, adjective. Characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions; "both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message".
EARNEST, adjective. Earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences".
EARNEST, adjective. Not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal.

Wise words

Every once in a while, you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You can't do that. It's gone, gone forever.
Dan Quayle