Word of the Day: EARNEST
Serious or sober
earnest (adj) - serious, committed, and honest [ur-nist]
earnest as a noun means sincerity, truth, or zeal; alternately, something given in advance to show intent to pay or provide the rest
BREAKDOWN: Earnest is well-known as a name, especially among Hemingway and Sesame Street fans. This virtue name is based on the quality of seriousness or zeal called eornost in Old English. Tracing the word back to the Proto-Germanic ernustuz meaning firmness or struggle reveals its roots arniz (efficient, sure) and the Indo-European er- (to set in motion).
“Speak not injurious words neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none, although they give occasion.” —George Washington
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]