名詞 earnest:

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

形容詞 earnest:

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

1. On their wedding, I sent my present in earnest.
   在他們的婚禮上，我真誠地送上了一份禮物。
2. He is an earnest Christian.
   他是一個虔誠的基督教徒。
3. I like earnest pupils.
   我喜歡認真的學生。
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.
   當前的經(jīng)濟滑坡預示著一次大的衰退即將來臨。
6. I'm sure he was earnest when he said he would come.
   我相信他說他會來是認真的。

earnest

adj.（形容詞）
Marked by or showing deep sincerity or seriousness:
誠摯的：表現(xiàn)出高度真誠和認真的：
例句：
an earnest gesture of goodwill.
一個表示友好的誠懇的手勢

Of an important or weighty nature; grave.See Synonyms at serious
莊嚴的：重要或有份量的；嚴肅莊重的參見 serious

<習慣用語>in earnest
With a purposeful or sincere intent:
正經(jīng)的：帶有認真或堅定的目的的：
例句：
settled down to study in earnest for the examination.
堅定決心認真坐下來復習準備考試

Serious; determined:
堅定不移的；嚴肅的：
例句：
.Both sides are deeply in earnest, with passions that approximate those of civil war.(Conor Cruise O`Brien)
.雙方都很堅決認真，象是鼓足勁要打一場內(nèi)戰(zhàn).(康納·克魯斯·奧布賴恩)

來源：
Middle English ernest
中古英語 ernest
from Old English eornoste * see er-
源自 古英語 eornoste *參見 er-

【引伸】
ear.nestly
adv.（副詞）
ear.nestness
n.（名詞）

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

n.（名詞）
Money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain.
訂金：提前支付作為締結(jié)一合同或交易的部分支付金
A token of something to come; a promise or an assurance.
保證：某事將至的信號；保證或證言

來源：
Middle English ernest
中古英語 ernest
variant of ernes
ernes的變體
alteration of Old French erres [pl. of] erre [pledge]
古法語 erres的變化 [] erre的復數(shù) [誓言]
from Latin arra
源自 拉丁語 arra
alteration of arrabô
arrabô的變化
from Greek arrabôn [earnest-money]
源自 希臘語 arrabôn [保證金]
from Hebrew `ôr3bôn
源自 希伯來語 `ôr3bôn
from `3rab [to pledge]
源自 `3rab [宣誓]