| / English Dictionary |
EARNESTLY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
In a serious manner
Example:
a play dealing seriously with the question of divorce
Synonyms:
earnestly; in earnest; seriously
Classified under:
Pertainym:
earnest (characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions)
Context examples:
By the sound they must have been talking earnestly, and almost fiercely; but no distinct word came to my hearing.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
“May I be with you, my lord!” said my father, earnestly.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
This I most earnestly entreat, and I know you will comply.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
While Dorothy was looking earnestly into the queer, painted face of the Scarecrow, she was surprised to see one of the eyes slowly wink at her.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
They conferred earnestly with each other, looking often upon me.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
We earnestly hope that you liked the illustrations.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
So the student sat himself down and waited a while; but the time hung heavy upon him, and he begged earnestly that he might ascend forthwith, for his thirst for knowledge was great.
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Mrs Smith looked at her again, looked earnestly, smiled, shook her head, and exclaimed—Now, how I do wish I understood you!
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
You will soon, I earnestly hope, know her thoroughly yourself.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Fanny, meanwhile, speaking only when she could not help it, was very earnestly trying to understand what Mr. and Miss Crawford were at.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
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