[ˈəːnɪst], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
(e.g: an earnest student)


Phrases:
- in earnest

Origin:
Old English eornoste (adjective), eornost (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Ernst (noun)

[ˈəːnɪst], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a thing intended or regarded as a sign or promise of what is to come
(e.g: the very deliberateness of their disguise is an earnest of their real aloofness)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English ernes, literally ‘instalment paid to confirm a contract’, based on Old French erres, from Latin arra, shortened form of arrabo ‘a pledge’. The spelling was influenced by words ending in -ness; the final -t is probably by association with earnest