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Earnest vs Obsessive - What's the difference?

earnest | obsessive |

As a proper noun earnest

is , an occasional spelling variant of ernest.

As an adjective obsessive is

prone to cause obsession.

As a noun obsessive is

a person who is obsessed, who has an obsession.

earnest

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ernest, eornest, from (etyl) eornest, eornost, .

Noun

(-)
  • Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
    • Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest .
  • * Shakespeare
    • given in earnest what I begged in jest
  • Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance); fixed determination; eagerness; intentness.
    • Derived terms
    * earnestful * in earnest

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be serious with; use in earnest.
  • * 1602 , Pastor Fido:
    • Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) eornest, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Serious in speech or action; eager; urgent; importunate; pressing; instant.
  • Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavour; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; — used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers .
  • Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention .
  • Possessing or characterised by seriousness; strongly bent; intent.
    • an earnest disposition
  • Strenuous; diligent.
    • earnest efforts
  • Serious; weighty; of a serious, weighty, or important nature; not trifling or feigned; important.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 3

    Of uncertain origin; apparently related to (erres). Compare also (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.
  • * 1990 , (Peter Hopkirk), The Great Game , Folio Society 2010, p. 365:
    • But if all this was viewed by Gladstone and the Cabinet as an earnest of St Petersburg's future good intentions in Central Asia, then disillusionment was soon to follow.

    See also

    * Earnest * earnest money

    Anagrams

    * * * *

    obsessive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Prone to cause obsession
    • ''The idea is too tempting, it's obsessive
  • Having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others.
    • ''Hardcore fans' obsessive behavior may take over their lives
  • Excessive, as results from obsession.
    • ''A workaholic's obsessive zeal may lead to success or burnout
  • * '>citation

    • Synonyms

    * (Having one thought or pursuing one activity) unrelenting, unyielding, headstrong *

    Derived terms

    * obsessively

    Related terms

    * obsess * obsession * obsessional

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who is obsessed, who has an obsession