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isguised meaning or reservation; unreserved; outspoken; -- applied to persons; as, he was earnest and explicit in his statement. Explicit function. (Math.) See under Function.

To reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to make redress or to desist; to remonstrate; -- followed by with. Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong. Jowett (Thuc. ).…

ng or reasoning with a person in opposition to some impropriety of conduct; remonstrance; earnest and kindly protest; dissuasion. We must use expostulation kindly. Shak.

To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink. When earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude they then begin to fail. Milton.

r proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth. Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the finite will and understanding to the reason. Coleridge.

Eager; earnest; intent. [Obs.] I am so fell to my business. Pepys.

Warm in feeling; ardent in temperament; earnest; full of fervor; zealous; glowing. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit. Rom. iii. 11. So spake the fervent angel. Milton. A fervent desire to promote the happiness of mankind. Macaulay. -- Fer"vent*ly, adv. -- Fer"vent*ness, n. Laboring fervently for you in praye…

Intensity of feeling or expression; glowing ardor; passion; holy zeal; earnestness. Hooker. Winged with fervor of her love. Shak.

Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.

Ardent; passionate; burning with zeal; irrepressibly earnest; as, a flaming proclomation or harangue.

To come before as an earnest of something to follow; to introduce as a harbinger; to announce. These signs forerun the death or fall of kings. Shak.

To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations. I . . . do forswear her. Shak.

Ardent; eager; earnest; in an ill sense, less reserved or modest than is proper; bold; confident; as, the boy is too forward for his years. I have known men disagreeably forward from their shyness. T. Arnold.

To fixx the eyes in a steady and earnest look; to look with eagerness or curiosity, as in admiration, astonishment, or with studious attention. Why stand ye gazing up into heaven Acts i. 11.

To look with fierce, piercing eyes; to stare earnestly, angrily, or fiercely. And eye that scorcheth all it glares upon. Byron.

Intense excitement or earnestness; vehemence or heat of passion; ardor. The red glow of scorn. Shak.

See under Acre. -- God's house. (a) An almshouse. [Obs.] (b) A church. -- God's penny, earnest penny. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. -- God's Sunday, Easter.

Real; actual; serious; as in the phrases in good earnest; in good sooth. Love no man in good earnest. Shak.

Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.

To strive after earnestly, as with groans. Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, Or that which groaneth to be so. Herbert.