All 12 Uses of
earnest
in
Persuasion
- She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying to get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly open to all the injustice and all the discredit of the selfish arrangements which shut her out, and on many lesser occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth the advantage of her own better judgement and experience; but always in vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and never had she pursued it in more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs Clay; turning from…†
Chpt 2
- Then returning to his former earnest tone—"My first wish for all whom I am interested in, is that they should be firm.†
Chpt 10
- His acquittal was complete, his friendship warmly honoured, a lively interest excited for his friend, and his description of the fine country about Lyme so feelingly attended to by the party, that an earnest desire to see Lyme themselves, and a project for going thither was the consequence.†
Chpt 11
- They ascended and passed him; and as they passed, Anne's face caught his eye, and he looked at her with a degree of earnest admiration, which she could not be insensible of.†
Chpt 12
- Most earnestly did she wish that he might not be too nice, or too observant if Elizabeth were his object; and that Elizabeth was disposed to believe herself so, and that her friend Mrs Clay was encouraging the idea, seemed apparent by a glance or two between them, while Mr Elliot's frequent visits were talked of.†
Chpt 15
- He spoke and looked so much in earnest, that Anne was not surprised to see Mrs Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself.†
Chpt 16
- He gave her to understand that he had looked at her with some earnestness.†
Chpt 16 *
- He was standing by himself at a printshop window, with his hands behind him, in earnest contemplation of some print, and she not only might have passed him unseen, but was obliged to touch as well as address him before she could catch his notice.†
Chpt 18
- Mrs Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her head, and exclaimed— "Now, how I do wish I understood you!†
Chpt 21
- Anne, seeing her friend to be earnestly bent on it, did as she was desired.†
Chpt 21
- She was earnestly begged to return and dine, and give them all the rest of the day, but her spirits had been so long exerted that at present she felt unequal to more, and fit only for home, where she might be sure of being as silent as she chose.†
Chpt 22
- The chair was earnestly protested against, and Mrs Musgrove, who thought only of one sort of illness, having assured herself with some anxiety, that there had been no fall in the case; that Anne had not at any time lately slipped down, and got a blow on her head; that she was perfectly convinced of having had no fall; could part with her cheerfully, and depend on finding her better at night.†
Chpt 23
Definition:
-
(earnest) characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious or determined