ear·nest /ˈɝnəst/
 (a.)熱心的,誠摯的認真,誠摯;定錢,保證金
 Ear·nest n.  Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
    Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest.   --Sir P. Sidney.
    And given in earnest what I begged in jest.   --Shak.
 In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.
 Ear·nest, a.
 1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers.
    An earnest advocate to plead for him.   --Shak.
 2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
 3. Serious; important. [Obs.]
    They whom earnest lets do often hinder.   --Hooker.
 Syn: -- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.
 Ear·nest, v. t. To use in earnest. [R.]
    To earnest them [our arms] with men.   --Pastor Fido (1602).
 Ear·nest, n.
 1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.
    Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.   --2 Cor. i. 22.
 And from his coffers
 Received the golden earnest of our death.   --Shak.
 2. Law Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale.
 Earnest money Law, money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.
 Syn: -- Earnest, Pledge.
 Usage: These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.
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 earnest
      adj 1: characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity
             of your opinions; "both sides were deeply in earnest,
             even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel
             tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message" [syn: in
             earnest(p), sincere, solemn]
      2: earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their
         success"; "heartfelt condolences" [syn: dear, devout,
         heartfelt]
      3: not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal [syn: businesslike]
      n : something of value given by one person to another to bind a
          contract
 Earnest
    The Spirit is the earnest of the believer's destined inheritance
    (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14). The word thus rendered is the
    same as that rendered "pledge" in Gen. 38:17-20; "indeed, the
    Hebrew word has simply passed into the Greek and Latin
    languages, probably through commercial dealings with the
    Phoenicians, the great trading people of ancient days.
    Originally it meant no more than a pledge; but in common usage
    it came to denote that particular kind of pledge which is a part
    of the full price of an article paid in advance; and as it is
    joined with the figure of a seal when applied to the Spirit, it
    seems to be used by Paul in this specific sense." The Spirit's
    gracious presence and working in believers is a foretaste to
    them of the blessedness of heaven. God is graciously pleased to
    give not only pledges but foretastes of future blessedness.