Both Uses of
earnest
in
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- But did you perceive her earnest?†
Scene 2.1 *earnest = sincere or serious
- Marry, after they clos'd in earnest, they parted very fairly in jest.†
Scene 2.5in earnest = serious; or in a serious manner
Definitions:
-
(1)
(earnest) characterized by sincere belief
or:
intensely or excessively serious or determined -
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Earnest can also be used as a name (variant spelling of Ernest), or to signify the seriousness of a pledge made (as when earnest money is included with an offer to purchase a home).