• earnest (subs.): i. e. part-payment, security: arrhăbo, ōnis, m., and arrha, ae, f. (the latter acc. to Gell. 17, 2, ad fin., became the preferable form): to be given as e.-money for a purchase, arrhae nomine pro emptione dari, Cai. Dig.: to give 40 minas by way of e., arrhaboni dare quadraginta minas, Pl. Fig.: e. of death (a physician's fee), mortis arrha, Plin. In fig. sense pignus may sometimes be precise enough: v. pledge, security. Phr.: to have in one's heart an e. of victory, animo praecipere victoriam, Cic.