earnestness

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).

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

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earnest·ly adv.

earnest·ness n.

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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.

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[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.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	earnestness - an earnest and sincere feeling       seriousness, sincerity solemnity, gravity - a solemn and dignified feeling
	2.	earnestness - the trait of being serious; "a lack of solemnity is not necessarily a lack of seriousness"- Robert Rice serious-mindedness, seriousness, sincerity trait - a distinguishing feature of your personal nature commitment, committedness - the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose; "a man of energy and commitment" graveness, gravity, soberness, sobriety, somberness, sombreness - a manner that is serious and solemn sedateness, solemness, solemnity, staidness - a trait of dignified seriousness

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earnestness

noun 1. seriousness, resolution, passion, enthusiasm, warmth, gravity, urgency, zeal, sincerity, fervour, eagerness, ardour, keenness

2. determination, resolve, urgency, zeal, ardour, vehemence