earnest
    adj 1: 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" [syn:
           earnest, sincere, solemn]
    2: earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their
       success"; "heartfelt condolences" [syn: dear, devout,
       earnest, heartfelt]
    3: not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal [syn:
       businesslike, earnest]
    n 1: something of value given by one person to another to bind a
         contract

Earnest \Ear"nest\ ([~e]r"n[e^]st), n. [AS. eornost, eornest;
   akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle,
   perh. akin to Gr. 'orny`nai 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 \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.
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            An earnest advocate to plead for him. --Shak.
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   2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
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   3. Serious; important. [Obs.]
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            They whom earnest lets do often hinder. --Hooker.

   Syn: Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate;
        fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.
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Earnest \Ear"nest\, 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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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.
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            Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of
            the Spirit in our hearts.             --2 Cor. i.
                                                  22.
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            And from his coffers
            Received the golden earnest of our death. --Shak.
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   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.
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   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.
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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.
   

EARNEST, contracts. The payment of a part of the price of goods sold, or the 
delivery of part of such goods, for the purpose of binding the contract. 
     2. The effect of earnest is to bind the goods sold, and upon their 
being paid for without default, the buyer is entitled to them. But 
notwithstanding the earnest, the money must be paid upon taking away the 
goods, because no other time for payment is appointed; earnest only binds 
the bargain, and gives the buyer a right to demand, but a demand without 
payment of the money is void; after earnest given the vendor cannot sell the 
goods to another, without a default in the vendee, and therefore if the 
latter does not come and pay, and take the goods, the vendor ought to go and 
request him, and then if he does not come, pay for the goods and take them 
away in convenient time, the agreement is dissolved, and he is at liberty to 
sell them to any other person. 1 Salk. 113: 2 Bl. Com. 447; 2 Kent, Com. 
389; Ayl. Pand. 450; 3 Campb. R. 426.