All 7 Uses

earnest
in
O Pioneers!
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Her body was in an attitude of perfect repose, such as it was apt to take when she was thinking earnestly.†
Chpt 1.4

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
Alexandra asked Signa whether she thought Nelse was in earnest,
Chpt 2.2 *

in earnest = serious
Alexandra made an impatient gesture, but the old man put out his hand and went on earnestly:— "Listen, mistress, it is right that you should take these things into account.†
Chpt 2.2

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
He was so much in earnest that Carl scarcely knew how to answer him.†
Chpt 2.3

in earnest = serious; or in a serious manner
"Why do you dread things like that, Carl?" she asked earnestly.†
Chpt 2.4

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
"Alexandra," he said earnestly, "if I git out-a here, I not trouble dis country no more.†
Chpt 5.2
"It happens like that in the world sometimes, Alexandra," he added earnestly.†
Chpt 5.3

Definitions:

(1) (earnest)
characterized by sincere belief

or:

intensely or excessively serious or determined
(2) (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).