earnest

1. Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
2. Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)

verb

To be serious with; use in earnest.

1. (said of an action or an utterance) Serious or honest
2. (with a positive sense) Focused in the pursuit of an objective; eager to obtain or do.

   earnest prayers

3. Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

   earnest attention.

4. (said of a person or a person's character) Possessing or characterised by seriousness.

   an earnest disposition

5. Strenuous; diligent.

   earnest efforts

6. Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; important.

noun

A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.

1. To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.

   You can have the s'mores: you earned them, clearing the walkway of snow so well.

2. To receive payment for work.

   He earns seven million dollars a year as CEO.  My bank account is only earning one percent interest.

3. To receive payment for work.

   Now that you are earning, you can start paying me rent.

4. To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.

   My CD earns me six percent!

5. To achieve by being worthy of.

   to earn a spot in the top 20

verb

To curdle, as milk.

1. To long; to yearn.
2. To grieve.