All 5 Uses

earnest
in
1776, by McCullough
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This will show we are in earnest, that we are prepared to punish, but are nevertheless ready to forgive.†
p. 18.7 *

in earnest = serious; or in a serious manner
We had as good to begin in earnest first as last.†
p. 55.5
"I most earnestly beg you to spare no trouble or necessary expense in getting these," he had told a local officer.†
p. 83.5

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
But an earnest young Presbyterian chaplain with the New Jersey troops, a graduate of the College of New Jersey at Princeton, Philip Vickers Fithian, found the level of piety alarmingly below his expectations and worried what the consequences might be to the American cause of so many of all ranks so habitually taking the name of the Lord in vain.†
p. 123.8

earnest = sincere or serious
He wished "most earnestly" to have Lee "where the principle scene of action is laid," Reed wrote, seconding what Washington had said.†
p. 248.7

earnestly = sincerely or seriously

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).