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earnestly

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia 0.01 sec.
ear·nest 1  (ûrnst)
adj.
1. Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness: an earnest gesture of goodwill.
2. Of an important or weighty nature; grave. See Synonyms at serious.
Idiom:
in earnest
1. With a purposeful or sincere intent: settled down to study in earnest for the examination.
2. Serious; determined: "Both sides are deeply in earnest, with passions that approximate those of civil war" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).

[Middle English ernest, from Old English eornoste; see er-1 in Indo-European roots.]

earnest·ly adv.
earnest·ness n.

ear·nest 2  (ûrnst)
n.
1. Money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain.
2. A token of something to come; a promise or an assurance.

[Middle English ernest, variant of ernes, alteration of Old French erres, pl. of erre, pledge, from Latin arra, alteration of arrab, from Greek arrabn, earnest-money, of Canaanite origin; see rb in Semitic roots.]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.earnestly - in a serious manner; "talking earnestly with his son"; "she started studying snakes in earnest"; "a play dealing seriously with the question of divorce"

earnestly
adverb
1. seriously, truly, sincerely, in earnest, in all sincerity `Do you really mean it?' she asked earnestly.
2. genuinely, keenly, eagerly, passionately, enthusiastically, fervently, ardently, fanatically, devotedly I earnestly hope what I learned will serve me well in my new job.
3. sincerely, really, truly, honestly, wholeheartedly, in all sincerity, from the bottom of your heart He is earnestly pursuing these objectives.
Translations
earnestly [ˈɜːnɪstlɪ] ADV [speak] → en serio; [work] → afanosamente, con empeño; [pray] → fervorosamente, fervientemente
I earnestly entreat you (frm or liter) → se lo suplico de todo corazón
earnestly [ˈɜːrnɪstli] adv
(= seriously) [say] → avec le plus grand sérieux; [listen] → avec sérieux
(= sincerely) [hope, wish] → sincèrement
earnestly
adv say, askernst, ernsthaft; talk, discuss, work, tryernsthaft; explainim Ernst, ernsthaft; hopeaufrichtig, innig; lookernst
earnestly [ˈɜːnɪstlɪ] adv (speak) → con serietà; (work) → con coscienza; (pray) → con fervore
earnestly [ˈɜːnɪstlɪ] adv (speak) → con serietà; (work) → con coscienza; (pray) → con fervore


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Let me earnestly recommend you not to follow me to Baliol Cottage, until I have had time to write to you first, and to give you such advice as I cannot, through ignorance of all the circumstances, pretend to offer now.
The bird entreated earnestly for his life: "What would you do without me when next you spread your nets?
She raised them up, looked earnestly at them, twined them around her thin fingers, and looked from time to time, anxiously at her father.
 
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