Etymology Dictionary

EARNEST (1),  eagerness, seriousness.  (E.)   Chiefly in the phrase 'in earnest.'   Now frequently used as an adj., but the M. E. ernest is a sb.; see Chaucer, C. T. 1127, 1128, 3186.—A. S. eornest, sb., earnestness; Grein, i. 261; also eorneste, adj. and adv. id. 262. + Du. ernst, earnestness, zeal. + O. H. G. ernust, M. H. G. ernest, G. ernst, sb. seriousness.—From a base ARN-, seen in Icel. ern, brisk, vigorous; and this from ✔AR, to raise, excite; cf. Gk. ὄρνυμι, to excite.   See Curtius, i. 432; Fick, i. 493, iii. 21.   Der. earnest, adj., earnest-ly, earnet-ness.

EARNEST (2),  a pledge, security.  (C.)   See 2 Cor. i. 22; v. 5; Eph. i. 14.   [The t is excrescent, as commonly after s; cf. whils-t, amongs-t from M. E. whiles, amonges.]   M. E. ernes, eernes; Wyclif, 2 Cor. i. 22; v. 5; Eph. i. 14.   [Cf. Prov. Eng. arles-penny, an earnest-penny, where arles = arnes = ernes; Ray.]—W. ernes, an earnest, pledge; also ern, a pledge, erno, to give a pledge. + Gael. earlas, an earnest, earnest-penny; whence Prov. E. arles.   ¶ Origin unknown; the resemblance to Gk. ἀρραβών, earnest-money, may be accidental, since this word is modified from Hebrew.   If the connection be real, then W. ernes, Gael. earlas, and (the alleged) Gael. arra = Lat. arrha (O. F. arrhes, Cot.), a pledge, are all various modifications of the Eastern word, viz. Heb. ʽérávón, a pledge, Gen. xxxviii. 17.   This word was introduced by the Phœnicians into both Greece and Italy.