Search Result for "in_earnest":
Wordnet 3.0

ADVERB (1)

1. in a serious manner;
- Example: "talking earnestly with his son"
- Example: "she started studying snakes in earnest"
- Example: "a play dealing seriously with the question of divorce"
[syn: seriously, earnestly, in earnest]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Earnest \Ear"nest\ ([~e]r"n[e^]st), n. [AS. eornost, eornest;
   akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle,
   perh. akin to Gr. 'orny`nai to excite, L. oriri to rise.]
   Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness;
   intentness.
   [1913 Webster]

         Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to
         earnest.                                 --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.
   [1913 Webster]

         And given in earnest what I begged in jest. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

   In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

in earnest
    adv 1: in a serious manner; "talking earnestly with his son";
           "she started studying snakes in earnest"; "a play dealing
           seriously with the question of divorce" [syn:
           seriously, earnestly, in earnest]