All 6 Uses

earnest
in
Sons and Lovers
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"But you should see it down, Paul," cried Emma earnestly.†
Chpt 1.5

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
He sat and listened with his earnestness.†
Chpt 1.6 *

earnestness = sincerity or seriousness
She searched earnestly in herself to see if she wanted Paul Morel.†
Chpt 2.7

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
She prayed earnestly for his safety that night.†
Chpt 2.8
Her dark eyes, full of love, earnest and searching, made him turn away.†
Chpt 2.11

earnest = sincere or serious
And instead of boxing his ears, she considered him in earnest.†
Chpt 2.13

in 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)
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).