earnest2 (ernest)

[With excrescent -t, rest. Ludlow , Memoirs. 2. Anything that gives pledge, promise, a ur- ance, or indication of what is to follow; first- fruits. Poul tellith in this epistle of fredom of Cristene men, how the i have ther ernes here, and fully fredom in hevene. Wyclif, Select Works (ed. Arnold), II. 277. He who from such a kind of Psalm is try, or any other verbal Devotion, without the pledge and earnest of suta- ble deeds, can be perswaded of a zeale and true righteous- ne in the person, hath much yet to learn. Milton , Eikon ok las tes, i. Ev'ry moment's calm that soothes the breast Is giv'n in earnest of eternal rest. IMG:content-0152.png:[graphic] Cowper , An Epistle. =Syn. Earnest , Pledge. Earnest , like pledge , is security given for the doing of something definite in the future, and generally returned when the conditions of the contract have been fulfilled. In 2 Cor. i. 22 and v. 5 we read that the Spirit is given as the earnest of indefinite future favors from God; in Black stone we find "a penny, or any portion of the goods delivered as earnest.' Whether literal or figurative, earnest is always a pledge in kind, a part paid or given in warrant that more of the same kind is forth- coming; as in "Macbeth," i. 3, Macbeth is hailed thane of Cawdor "for an earnest of a greater honor." See also "Cymbeline," i. 6. Pledge is often used figuratively for that which seems promised or indicated by the actions of the present, earnest being preferred for that which is of the same nature with the thing promised, and pledge for that which is materially different. Man, if not yet fully installed in his powers, has given much earnest of his claims. Marg . Fuller , Woman in 19th Cent., p. 15. Seldom has so much promise, seldom have so great ear- nests of great work, been so sadly or so fatally blighted. Stubbs , Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 10. Vaughan, The Rainbow. earnest2+ (er'nest), v . t. [ serve as an earnest or a pledge of. Bright pledge of peace and sunshine. This little we see is something in hand, to earnest to us those things which are in hope. T. Shepard , Clear Sunshine of the Gospel, Ded. earnestfult (er'nest-fül), a. [ Tennyson, Day-Dream, Epil. In earnest, or in good earnest, with a serious purpose; seriously; not in sport or jest, nor in a thoughtle , trifling -ful . ] Serious; earnest. way: as, they set to work in earnest . What ever he be he shall repente the daye That he was bold, in earnest or in game, To do to you this villany and shame. Lat us stinte of ernestful matere. Chaucer, Clerk's Tale, 1. 1176. (ėr'nest-li), adv. [ ernestly , earnestly (er'nest-li), Generydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 510. AS. cornostlice , tlice , earnestly, strictly strictly (also used He acted in good earnest what Rehoboam did but threat'n. conjunctively as a stiff translation of L. ergo , Milton , Eikon ok las tes, xxvii. igitur , itaque , etc., therefore, and so, but, etc.) [ ernstelijk = OHG. ernustlihho , MHG. er- earnest1 (er'nest), a . not found (only ernestful ), = and adv., MLG. ernest, ernst, G. ernst, adj.; from the noun.] 1. speech tion; eager; urgent; importunate; pre ing; instant: as, earnest in prayer. He was most earnest with me, to haue me say my mynde also. Ascham, The Scholemaster, p. 71. The common people were earnest with this new King for peace with the Tapanecans. Purchas , Pilgrimage, p. 792. With much difficulty he suffer'd me to looke homeward, being very earnest with me to stay longer. Evelyn, Diary, Sept. 10, 1677. Some of the magistrates were very earnest to have irons presently put upon them. Winthrop , Hist. New England, II. 176. 2. Po e ing or characterized by seriousne in seeking, doing, etc.; strongly bent; intent: as, an earnest disposition. On that prospect strange Their earnest eyes they fix'd. Milton , P. L., x. 553. 3. Strenuous; diligent: as, earnest efforts.-4. Serious; weighty weighty nature; not trifling or feigned. They whom earnest lets do often hinder. us; weighty; of a serious, important, or Hooker, Eccles. Polity. made me start. Bunyan , Pilgrim's Progre , p. 244. earn2 (ern), v. i. [E. dial. and Sc., ernen , To be serious with; use in earnest. cornen, urnen, etc., corn an , transposed form of rinnan , etc., run (ME. also coagulate): see run (of which earn2 is a dou- blet), runnet, rennet.] To curdle, as milk. Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use. Pastor Fido (1602), sig. E 1. nestliche , nestliche , G. G. ernstlich ernstlich ), cornost , earnest, + -līce , E. -ly2.] In an earnest manner; warmly; zealously; importunately; eagerly; with real desire; with fixed attention. Thenne euelez on erthe ernestly grewen. Alliterative Poems (ed. Morris), 1. 2227. Luke xxii. 44. Being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly . There stood the king, and long time earnestly Looked on the le ening ship. William Morris , Earthly Paradise, II. 309.