Middle English Dictionary Entry
ē̆rnest n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ē̆rnest n. Also eernest, ernes; eornest, urnest, ȝornest, arnest. |
| Etymology | OE eornust, -est. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Seriousness of intention or application, serious intention, earnestness; (b) in, on, for ernest, in earnest, in all seriousness, seriously; in ernest or in game(n, seriously or lightheartedly (playfully), under all or any circumstances; neg., under no circumstances.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3186 : Men shal noght make ernest of game.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.100 : Bacus!..That so kanst turnen ernest in to game.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.462 : Betwen ernest and game Ful ofte it torneth other wise.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1594 : Bitwix ernest and game.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.452 : Criseyde..saugh the sorwful ernest of the knyght.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)15/1 : Sche wend þat he had ment ful ernest.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)14 : Arneste, or erneste, seryowste: Seriositas.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)103 : Þat wiþ a grettir herte, loue, entent, purpose and eernest þou ȝeuest to vs þi silf.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)432 : If þei sadli and in grettist eernest telle vs summe þingis.
b
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)38/10 : Ȝif ðu swa ne dest on eornost, ic wulle habban eft æt þe þæt ic ðe ær forȝeaf.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18061 : Þa iseȝen Irisce men þat Brutten wes an eornest. feondliche heo fuhten.
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)573 : He gradde on eornest and on game.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)411 : Adam is to eue cumen, More for erneste dan for gamen.
- ?c1335 Sith Gabriell gan (Hrl 913)98 : Sire Pers..On ernist and agam þis dai was in is þoȝt.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4401 : In game ne on ernest.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1125 : Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.335 : Þis Lanfrank..bylad kyng William..somtyme an hernest and sometime in good merþe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.185 : Thise merchauntz han hym told of dame Custaunce So greet noblesse in ernest ceriously.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.856 : What in ernest and in game, Sche stant for love in such a plit, That sche hath lost al appetit.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.733 : Nathelees for ernest ne for game He of his cruel purpos nolde stente.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1292 : Ho-so haunteþ hyt comunly Yn ernest or yn rybaudy, He shall haue warryng for blysse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2163 : Þis contek, in ernes and no game, Iuparted was betwixe Loue and Schame.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3064 : He schal hem so daunte..Þat..in ernest or in game He myȝt hem make louten and encline.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2687 : Alle his liges..to be sworn..To perseuere his trew liges alle Durynge her lyf, for ernest or for game.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)859 : Waspasian ..Prayeþ princes on ernest..þat eche wye..schold his wille specke.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1434 : There schulde no man in ernest ne in borde Of here mouthes ones here a worde.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9087 : Here-aftyr, neythir in ernyst nere game, No mortal husbonde to me do name.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)375/307 : He seyde an ernys, 'for goddus loue tel me why þat þou so mornys.'
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11634 : For ertyng his exile in ernest before.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)116/10 : To praie hym a-nernest þat he delyuere hym of yuele.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.569 : Thow shalt not take Goddis name in vayn, Nother in Ernest, nother in game.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)988 : Now may Oger Denys Euer more haue pes In ernest and eke in plawe!
2.
A serious or grave matter.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.710 : He that me broghte first vnto that game,..sorwe haue he..For it is ernest to me by my feith!
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2504 : It is an ernes [vr. ernest] and no game, With suche monstres vnwarly for to dele.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1709 : Glade vs, o Lord..And make vs of this grete ernest a game!
3.
(a) Real intention or meaning; (b) in, on ernest, in actuality or reality; really, actually, in fact.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)230 : Liȝ me nout, wilekin,..Is hit þin hernest þou tekest [?tellest] me?
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1627 : Is this youre wyl in ernest that ye seye?
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)930 : Whan þat Gabba was gon & to grounde broȝt, Othis entriþ on ernest & emperour was made.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)74/24 : A man kunne knowe al on ernest and juge what is good and what is euele.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)150/303 : These tythyngis mar my mode in ernes.
4.
(a) Vehemence of feeling or action; ardor or fury, as in conflict; (b) hot ernest, ardent love or passion.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16480 : Þer wes feht swiðe stor, eornest ful sturne.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)16468 : Aurelie..and mani þousend..bi-gonne þare to fihte mid folle ȝorneste.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2575 : Vortimer wiþ gret poer & wiþ gret ernest [B: vrnest] ynou aȝen þis heþene drou.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5545 : Nobliche & wel he faȝt & so god ernest [B: vrnest] to him he nom.
b
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4838 : Whanne they han her lust geten, The hoote ernes they al foryeten.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1287 : The hote ernest [of Eneas for Dido] is al overblowe.