Earnestly
/ˈɜːrnɪstli/noun
In a serious, sincere, and determined manner.
Did you know?The core word earnest has long carried the sense of seriousness and sincerity, and in older English it could describe a person’s deep, almost sacred commitment to what they say.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁er-
“To set in motion; to stir, begin”
Old English
OE
eornost
“Seriousness, zeal, intent purpose”
Middle English
ME
ernest
“Seriousness; seriousness of purpose; earnest intention”
Late Middle English
ME
ernestli
“In earnest fashion; sincerely, seriously”
Modern English
English
earnestly
“In a serious, sincere, and determined manner”