earnestly Copy link Outline I. With earnestness1. ācrĭter (with vigour and energy)2. impensē (lit. with expense3. magnŏpĕrĕ, or as two words, magno opere4. intentēII. With gravity • earnestly: I. With earnestness: 1. ācrĭter (with vigour and energy): to exert oneself very e., acerrime niti, Sall.: to guard e. against anything, a. aliquid cavere, Hor.: e. to court the favour of Caesar, favorem Caesaris a. fovere, Tac.: to consider a case most e., causam acerrime contemplari, Cic.: v. keenly, vigorously. 2. impensē (lit. with expense: hence, exceedingly, earnestly): to tender thanks more e. impensius gratias agere, Liv.: v. eagerly. 3. magnŏpĕrĕ, or as two words, magno opere: compar., majore opere, etc. (esp. with verbs of wishing, asking): I e. wish, magnopere volo, Cic.: most e. do I again and again beg of you, a te maximo opere (or maximopere) etiam atque etiam quaeso et peto, Cic. Fam. 3, 2. 4. intentē: v. eagerly. Also the adj. intentus may often be used: he e. listened to your entreaties, intentâ tuis precibus se praebuit aure, Tib. 4, 1, 132: e. set on doing something, intentus ad aliquid faciendum, Cic.: to gaze e. at anything, intentis oculis aliquid intueri (fig.), Cic. Agr. 2, 28, 77. Phr.: to contemplate e. an idea of beauty, speciem pulchritudinis intueri in eaque defixum esse, Cic. Or. 2, 9: being in an agony, he prayed the more e., factus in agonia prolixius orabat, Vulg. II. With gravity: sērio: v. gravely, seriously.