All 5 Uses

earnest
in
The Hiding Place
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"Betsie," she was saying earnestly, "I'm not going to wear that great ugly hat to school just because Tante Jans paid for it.†
p. 32.9

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
Father, who was incapable of practicing deceit or even recognizing it, took a long and earnest sniff.†
p. 38.9 *

earnest = sincere or serious
But I earnestly believed—and all the books agreed—that I would look beautiful to the man who loved me.†
p. 53.1

earnestly = sincerely or seriously
I was sorry to say good-bye to this man who was struggling so earnestly for truth.†
p. 175.8
In mid-November the rains started in earnest, chilly, drenching day-long downpours that left beads of moisture even on the inside walls.†
p. 216.1

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).