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earnestness

/ˈɜːnɪstnəs/

Meanings
  • adjective

    Sincere and serious in expression or intention; not feigning; genuine.

  • noun

    The quality of being deeply concerned and serious in purpose.


Pronunciation
  1. /ˈɝnɪstnəs/



    Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2650888"

Rhymes
Words rhyming with earnestness
serenity , sincerity , purity
Variants
List of all variants of earnestness that leads to same result
earnest , earnestness , earnestnesses
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

earnestly, earnestnesses, more earnest, most earnest


Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French ergneis, from ergner, to be serious, from erniez, serious, from ernes, serious.


Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word
  1. The word earnestness comes from the Old French word ergneis, which means 'serious'.

  2. The term 'earnest money' refers to a deposit made by a buyer to show their commitment to purchasing a property.


Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to
  1. sincerity: The quality of being genuine and honest in one's feelings or expressions.

  2. seriousness: The quality of being earnest, grave, and sober.


Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities
  1. Students of all ages were forced to watch these "earnest" but bizarre short films, which apprised them of such things as the folly of playing on steep precipices overlooking the ocean, the need to minimize one's square-dancing during the early days of the menstrual cycle, the inadvisability of shooting heroin before an important track meet and the necessity of placing the fork to the left of the plate.

    - Joe Queenan,{it}New York Times{/it},20 Jan. 2000
  2. … a bland expression on my face, looking more innocent than an innocent person has any business looking, I imagined that the sales-women who sometimes glanced over at me saw an "earnest" young shopper instead of a transparent little klepto.

    - Tobias Wolff,{it}Forbes{/it},20 Mar. 1989
  3. … a Prussian émigré who became a middle-class English gentleman; an angry agitator who spent much of his adult life in the scholarly silence of the British Museum Reading Room; a gregarious and convivial host who fell out with almost all his friends; a devoted family man who impregnated his housemaid; and a deeply "earnest" philosopher who loved drink, cigars and jokes.

    - Francis Wheen,{it}The Nation{/it},10 July 2000
  4. Barnum's antics provoked tongue-in-cheek reporting and nods and winks in the newspapers, but no "earnest" cries of humbug. The artful deceiver turned fraud into family fun.

    - Jackson Lears,{it}New Republic{/it},12 Nov. 2001

Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, earnestness is often portrayed as a virtue, particularly in characters who are passionate about their beliefs or causes. In art, earnestness can be conveyed through intense expression or seriousness of subject matter. In music, earnestness can be heard in the emotional intensity of a performance.

How to Memorize "earnestness"

  1. visualize

    - Visualize a person expressing earnestness through their facial expressions and body language. Imagine their intense focus and deep concern for the subject at hand.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word earnestness with sincerity and seriousness. Think of a time when you felt deeply passionate about something and expressed that passion earnestly.

  3. mnemonics

    - Remember the acronym EARN: Earnestness, Attentiveness, Respect, and Nurturing. These are the qualities that can help you remember the meaning of earnestness.


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