What does in earnest stand for?

phrase. If you are in earnest, you are sincere in what you are doing and saying. It presented in satirical terms points made in earnest by Catholic writers. No one could tell whether he was in earnest or in jest. Synonyms: genuine, serious, sincere, honest More Synonyms of in earnest.

What does it mean to be earnest person?

Earnest people are very serious and sincere in what they say or do, because they think that their actions and beliefs are important. She was a pious, earnest woman.

What is the synonym of earnest?

Some common synonyms of earnest are grave, sedate, serious, sober, solemn, and staid. While all these words mean “not light or frivolous,” earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

What does it mean to speak earnest?

2 very serious and sincere about what you are saying and about your intentions; in a way that shows that you are serious: You may laugh but I’m in deadly earnest. ♢ I could tell she was speaking in earnest.

Is Ernest a word?

a male given name: from an Old English word meaning “vigor, intent.”

What is an example of earnest?

Earnest is defined as the state of being serious or intense. The definition of earnest is intense and not playful, or important. An example of someone earnest is a preacher speaking to a congregation of devout followers. A lesson on how to correctly perform CPR is an example of something earnest.

Does earnest mean honest?

As adjectives the difference between honest and earnest is that honest is (of a person or institution) scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright while earnest is serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.

How do you use the word earnest?

Earnest sentence example

1. His simple, earnest response and the conviction on his face floored her.
2. Preparations were made in earnest for his subjugation.
3. The tears started in earnest as she reached the laundry room.
4. His political career began in earnest at the opening of the War of 1812.

Is earnest a boy or girl name?

The name Earnest is primarily a male name of English origin that means Diligent, Truthful.

What does it mean when someone is in earnest?

Serious, determined, as in We thought he was joking, but he was in earnest, or I’m in dead earnest about selling the business. In the variant, from the late 1800s, dead means “completely” or “thoroughly” and is used purely for emphasis. [c. a.d. in ˈearnest.

What is the motif of death in The Importance of Being Earnest?

In this lesson we will examine the motif of death from Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being Earnest.’ This is a play about irreverent and superficial socialites in England who treat death in the same manner that they treat life. Think for a minute about death. For most, death is a sober subject that is considered with sadness or possibly fear.

Is death a sober subject in The Importance of Being Earnest?

For most, death is a sober subject that is considered with sadness or possibly fear. In the play ”The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, the wealthy trendsetters take nothing seriously except their social standing. This play features Jack, a young man who lives in the country with his ward, Cecily.

What is the origin of the word Ernes?

Anglo-French ernes (t), erles, alteration of Old French erres, plural of erre pledge, earnest, alteration of Latin arra, short for arrabo, from Greek arrhabōn, of Semitic origin