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1. Dictionary

   ear·nest

   /ˈərnəst/

   noun

   • 1. a thing intended or regarded as a sign or promise of what is to come: "the presence of the troops is an earnest of the world's desire not to see the conflict repeated elsewhere"

   Word Origin Middle Englishernes, literally ‘installment paid to confirm a contract’, based on Old French erres, from Latin arra, shortened form of arrabo ‘a pledge’. The spelling was influenced by words ending in -ness; the final -t is probably by association with earnest1.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • N

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

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