Earnest (&etilde_;rn&ebreve_;st), n. [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. 'ornynai to excite, L. oriri to rise.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
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Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Sir P. Sidney.
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And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak.
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In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.
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Earnest, v. t. To use in earnest. [R.]
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To earnest them [our arms] with men. Pastor Fido (1602).
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