earnest

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earnest1 †ardour in battle; seriousness. OE. eornust, -ost = MLG. ernest, OHG. ernust (G. ernst); cf. ON. ern brisk, vigorous, Goth. arniba safely; of unkn. orig.
So earnest adj. OE. eornost(e) = MLG. ernest. earnestly OE. eornostlīċe.

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