Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

earnestness

/ˈɝnɪstnəs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.39 in modern English

Syllables: ear-nest-ness
IPA: /ˈɝnɪstnəs/

11

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The quality of being earnest; sincerity; seriousness.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Gameshttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/ She’s joined, on the boys’ side, by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), a baker’s son whose earnestness masks a gift for strategy that Katniss lacks."
"She spoke with great earnestness about the issue."
"His youthful earnestness impressed the audience."
"sincere earnestness"
"quiet earnestness"
"with complete earnestness"

Etymology

Etymology tree English earnest Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English earnestness From earnest + -ness.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɝnɪstnəs/
British English: /ˈɜːnɪstnəs/

Usage

Inflected Forms

earnestnesses (plural)

Synonyms

seriousness serious-mindedness sincerity

Questions

How do you pronounce earnestness?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɝnɪstnəs/.
What does earnestness mean?: The quality of being earnest; sincerity; seriousness.
Where does earnestness come from?: Etymology tree English earnest Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English earnestness From earnest + -ness.

How to pronounce earnestness

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