Reverse Dictionary: EARNEST

ADJECTIVES
► AFFECTIONATE eager, ambitious, earnest → 1598 obs.
► AFFECTIOUS earnest, sincere; cordial → 1581 obs.
► AFFECTIVE earnest, zealous → 1549 obs.
► AFFECTUAL earnest, ardent, eager, hearty → 1483 obs.
► AFFECTUOUS earnest in feeling or desire; eager, ardent,  hearty → 1494 obs.
► DEAD-WOOD EARNEST quite earnest → 19C  Amer. dial.
► DEEDIE ► DEEDY full of activity; painstaking, earnest → 1852 Sc. & Eng. dial.  
► DERN determined, earnest, eager; careful → 1881 Eng. dial.
► EAGER BEAVER earnest, usually excessively so → 1940s sl.
► EARNESTFUL earnest; sincerely zealous; intense, ardent → 1430 obs.
► EARNSTFUL earnest; with great longing or yearning → 1857 Eng. dial.
► FLAGRANT ardent, intensely eager or earnest → 1521  obs.
► HARDY-EARNEST downright earnest → 1905 Ireland (Bk.)
► HEARTLY proceeding from or seated in the heart; expressive of real feeling; earnest, genuine, sincere → 1340 obs.
► NEODFUL earnest, eager → a1000 obs.
► NETTLE-EARNEST downright earnest → 1818 Sc.
► RATHE quick in action, speedy, prompt; eager, earnest, vehement → c900 Eng. dial. & poetic
► THRO keen, eager, zealous, earnest → 1300 obs.
► WAKEN ON to become animated, earnest, or excited; to become violent in language → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► YEARNSFUL ► YERNSFUL earnest; with great longing or yearning → 1857 Eng. dial.
► YERNSTFUL earnest; with great longing or yearning → 1878 Eng. dial. obs.

ADVERBS
► AFFECTEDLY with aim or desire; with true intent; intentionally, sincerely, earnestly → 1596 obs.
► AFFECTIONALLY affectionately; earnestly → a1657 obs.
► AFFECTIONATELY with strong inclination; eagerly, zealously, earnestly → 1588 obs.
► AFFECTIOUSLY earnestly, sincerely, cordially, kindly → 1430 obs.
► AFFECTUALLY with eager desire, earnestly → 1483 obs.
► AFFECTUOUSLY with earnest feeling or desire; earnestly, ardently, eagerly → 1450 obs.
► DEARLY from the heart, heartily, earnestly → a1310 obs.
► DING-DANG in rapid succession; speedily, pell-mell; in earnest, with a will → 1742 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► DING-DONG in rapid succession; speedily, pell-mell; in earnest, with a will → 1672
► DOUGHTILY skilfully, earnestly  → 1375 obs.
► EARN earnestly, longingly → 1230 obs.
► EARNSTFULLY earnestly, wistfully, yearningly → 1844 Eng. dial.
► EFFECTUOUSLY urgently, earnestly → 1533 obs.
► FAIR DINKUM serious, in earnest → 1934 Aust. sl.
► FAST earnestly, steadily, diligently, zealously → c1200 obs.
► FOR FAIR in reality, earnestly, seriously → 1853 Eng. dial.
► HEAD AND HEELS completely, altogether, without reserve; with great earnestness → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► HEAD AND HIDE completely, altogether, without reserve; with great earnestness → 1868 Sc.
► HEAD AND TAIL completely, altogether, without reserve; with great earnestness → 1853 Sc.
► HEARTLY with the heart; earnestly, sincerely; cordially; heartily → a1225 obs.
► HORSE AND FOOT with all one’s might → c1600 obs.
► IN DEAD EARNEST most earnestly; undoubtedly → c1870 colloq.
► IN GOOD SADDENS in earnest → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► IN GOOD SADNESS in earnest, not joking → 1544 obs.
► IN SPITE OF HELL resolutely; earnestly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► IN SPITE OF HELL AND HIGH WATER resolutely; earnestly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► MAINLY of expression, thought: vehemently, strongly; earnestly, eagerly → c1400 obs.
► NEEDLY zealously, carefully; earnestly → c900 obs.
► OBNIXELY earnestly, strenuously → 1641 obs.
► OBNIXIOUSLY earnestly, strenuously → 1632 obs.
► OF ALL ONE’S HEART with all one’s heart; sincerely, earnestly → c1380 obs.
► OF HEART with all one’s heart; sincerely, earnestly → c1380 obs.
► ON THE DEAD in earnest; sincerely; straightforwardly; honestly, truthfully  → 1888 sl.
► PREST eagerly, earnestly → 1400 obs.
► PRESTLY eagerly, earnestly, urgently → 1375 obs.
► THACK-AND-MORTAR in good earnest; with all one’s might → 1856 Eng. dial.
► TOOTH AND TOENAIL. with all one’s strength, with great energy, in earnest; completely → 1828 Amer. dial.
► VREACH carefully, diligently, earnestly, actively → 1746 Eng. dial.
► YERNE eagerly, earnestly, diligently, zealously, heartily → a1200 obs.
► YERNLY eagerly, earnestly, diligently, zealously, heartily → c725 obs.

NOUNS
► BUSINESS eagerness, earnestness, importunity → 1387 obs.
► EARNESTY earnestness → 1572 obs.
► IMPRESSMENT earnestness, ardour → 1854 

NOUNS – PERSON
► BOY SCOUT an earnest, serious-minded person → 1981 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
► EAGER BEAVER an excessively earnest, keen person whose efforts are sometimes more notable for their sound and fury than their actual usefulness → 1943 orig. US

VERBS
► KNUCKLE DOWN TO to apply oneself earnestly or vigorously → 1864
► MEAN BUSINESS to be totally committed, to be utterly earnest → 1857 sl.