Both Uses of
earnest
in
The Remains of the Day
- My employer's godson looked an earnest, scholarly young man, and one could see many fine qualities in his features; yet given the topic one wished to raise, one would have certainly preferred a lighterhearted, even a more frivolous sort of young gentleman.†
Chpt 2m - *earnest = sincere or serious
- As a matter of fact, the conversation tended to be rather earnest in tone and some very interesting viewpoints were expressed.†
Chpt 4a -
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).