Where does “earnest” come from?
Earnest comes from Old English eornest, derived from Proto-Germanic *arnustiz, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning serious intent or vigorous striving.
earnest (English): Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness;...
Definitions
- Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness;...
Ancestry of “earnest”, step by step
earnest traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English earn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | earn | To gain through applied effort or work; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | ernen | To earn to accrue or receive payments |
| 3 | Old English | irnan | Alternative form of rinnan; to run |
| 4 | Old English | rinnan | to run |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *rinnan | to run, to flow |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | rinnaną | to run, to rush; to flow |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ér- | to move, to stir |