Both Uses
earnest
in
The Graveyard Book
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- A crack of thunder rang out, loud and sudden as a gunshot, and the rain began in earnest.†
p. 32.7 *in earnest = serious; or in a serious manner
- As if in reply, the wind gusted coldly and the rain began to beat down in earnest.†
p. 222.3
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).