v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Earned p. pr. & vb. n. Earning. ] [ AS. earnian; akin to OHG. arnōn to reap, aran harvest, G. ernte, Goth. asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS. esne; cf. Icel. önn working season, work. ] 1. To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not). [ 1913 Webster ]

The high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels. [ 1913 Webster ]

I earn that [ what ] I eat. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earned run (Baseball), a run which is made without the assistance of errors on the opposing side.

Syn. -- See Obtain. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ See 1st Yearn. ] To grieve. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ See 4th Yearn. ] To long; to yearn. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And ever as he rode, his heart did earn
To prove his puissance in battle brave. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ AS. irnan to run. √11. See Rennet, and cf. Yearnings. ] To curdle, as milk. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zoöl.) See Ern, n. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. Gained as a result of effort or action; -- used especially of income; as, earned income. Contrasted with unearned. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Baseball) not resulting from an error by an opposing team; -- used in the phrase earned runs. [ PJC ]

n. someone who earns wages in return for labor.
Syn. -- wage earner. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers. [ 1913 Webster ]

An earnest advocate to plead for him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Serious; important. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They whom earnest lets do often hinder. Hooker.

Syn. -- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent; sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To use in earnest. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To earnest them [ our arms ] with men. Pastor Fido (1602). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. ērāvōn; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. Arles, Earles penny. ] 1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Cor. i. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

And from his coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.

Syn. -- Earnest, Pledge. These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph. [ 1913 Webster ]