Both Uses of
earnest
in
The Importance of Being Earnest
- You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life.†
Act 1 *earnest = sincere or serious
- On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I've now realised for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.†
Act 3
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).