- Earnest
- Earnest Ear"nest, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra,
arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb.
[=e]r[=a]v[=o]n; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas,
perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. {Arles}, {Earles penny}.]
1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge;
pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.
[1913 Webster]
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. --2 Cor. i. 22. [1913 Webster]
And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. --Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin. [1913 Webster]
{Earnest money} (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.
Syn: {Earnest}, {Pledge}.
Usage: 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
