Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Sir P. Sidney.

And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak.

In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.

An earnest advocate to plead for him. Shak.

They whom earnest lets do often hinder. Hooker.

Syn. -- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.

To earnest them [our arms] with men. Pastor Fido (1602).

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 22.

And from his coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death. Shak.

Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn. -- Earnest, Pledge. These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.