earnest (adj.) Copy link Outline I. Eager, urgent1. intentus (lit. strained; hence of eager, vigorous action)2. instans, ntis3. impensus (with words implying emotion)4. ācer, cris, creII. Serious; opp. to the notion of sport, irony, etc. • earnest (adj.): I. Eager, urgent: 1. intentus (lit. strained; hence of eager, vigorous action): the Romans, e. at home and in the field, Romani domi militiaeque int., Sall. Cat. 6: e. and energetic speech, oratio int. et vehemens, Cic. 2. instans, ntis: v. urgent. 3. impensus (with words implying emotion): very e. entreaties, impensissimae preces, Suet. 4. ācer, cris, cre: e. thought, acris [atque attenta] cogitatio, Cic.: v. eager. Phr.: to be e. in the pursuit of fame, famae instare, Tac.: at my e. request, efflagitatu meo, Cic.: engaged in e. thought, in cogitatione defixus, Cic. de Or. 3, 5, 17. II. Serious; opp. to the notion of sport, irony, etc.: sērius: if I have said anything in joke, do not turn it to e., si quid per jocum dixi, nolite in serium convertere, Pl.: joke and e., joca atque seria, Cic.: Sall. Phr.: neither in joke nor in e., nec joco nec serio, Pl.