in-earnestness rare—1.
(ɪnˈɜːnɪstnɪs)
[f. in prep. + earnestness; cf. earnest n.1 2 a.]
Seriousness, serious intention.
| 1879 G. M. Hopkins Lett. to R. Bridges (1955) 89, I do avoid them [sc. inversions], because they weaken..the earnestness or in-earnestness of the utterance. |