earnest

名词 earnest:

1. something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

形容词 earnest:

1. characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
   同义词：sincere, solemn
2. earnest
   同义词：dear, devout, heartfelt
3. not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal
   同义词：businesslike

1. On their wedding, I sent my present in earnest.
   在他们的婚礼上，我真诚地送上了一份礼物。
2. He is an earnest Christian.
   他是一个虔诚的基督教徒。
3. I like earnest pupils.
   我喜欢认真的学生。
4. It is raining in real earnest.
   雨真地下大了。
5. The current economic slump is an earnest of the major recession to come.
   当前的经济滑坡预示着一次大的衰退即将来临。
6. I'm sure he was earnest when he said he would come.
   我相信他说他会来是认真的。

earnest

adj.（形容词）
Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness:
诚挚的：表现出高度真诚和认真的：
例句：
an earnest gesture of goodwill.
一个表示友好的诚恳的手势

Of an important or weighty nature; grave.See Synonyms at serious
庄严的：重要或有份量的；严肃庄重的参见 serious

<习惯用语>in earnest
With a purposeful or sincere intent:
正经的：带有认真或坚定的目的的：
例句：
settled down to study in earnest for the examination.
坚定决心认真坐下来复习准备考试

Serious; determined:
坚定不移的；严肃的：
例句：
.Both sides are deeply in earnest, with passions that approximate those of civil war.(Conor Cruise O`Brien)
.双方都很坚决认真，象是鼓足劲要打一场内战.(康纳·克鲁斯·奥布赖恩)

来源：
Middle English ernest
中古英语 ernest
from Old English eornoste * see er-
源自 古英语 eornoste *参见 er-

【引伸】
ear.nestly
adv.（副词）
ear.nestness
n.（名词）

---------------另--------------
earnest
earnest 2

n.（名词）
Money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain.
订金：提前支付作为缔结一合同或交易的部分支付金
A token of something to come; a promise or an assurance.
保证：某事将至的信号；保证或证言

来源：
Middle English ernest
中古英语 ernest
variant of ernes
ernes的变体
alteration of Old French erres [pl. of] erre [pledge]
古法语 erres的变化 [] erre的复数 [誓言]
from Latin arra
源自 拉丁语 arra
alteration of arrabô
arrabô的变化
from Greek arrabôn [earnest-money]
源自 希腊语 arrabôn [保证金]
from Hebrew `ôr3bôn
源自 希伯来语 `ôr3bôn
from `3rab [to pledge]
源自 `3rab [宣誓]