Obs. [OE. had eornoste adv., perh. instrum. case of eornost, EARNEST sb.1, or f. the adj.; the later word is merely an advbl. use of the adj.] = EARNESTLY.
1629. J. Cole, Of Death, 44. The lesse the bodily members, yea his fiue senses are occupied, the more earnester hee withdrawes himselfe to his cogitations.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xlvii. 480. But had not profited with that Queen; so earnest was she bent against the Duke of Chastelherault and his Complices.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, IV. 453. Earnest they sued for an auxiliar band.
