All 3 Uses of
earnest
in
Much Ado About Nothing
- He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth is not for me; and he that is less than a man, I am not for him: therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-ward, and lead his apes into hell.†
Scene 2.1in earnest = serious; or in a serious manner
- He is in earnest.†
Scene 5.1
- In most profound earnest; and, I'll warrant you, for the love of Beatrice.†
Scene 5.1 *earnest = sincere or serious
Definition:
characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious or determined
or:
intensely or excessively serious or determined