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Earnest: adjective – with serious intent, not
trifling, ardent, intense, zealous; as a result of or a display of sincere
conviction; weighty or important.
'Colin was so earnest in
his pursuit of philately that one would think his life depended on his search
for new stamps.'
24 September 1936 Jim
Henson, the creator of the Muppets, was born – and one of his characters was,
of course, called 'Earnie', a diminutive of 'Earnest'.
2 comments:
I must earnestly protest that Jim Henson's muppet was actually named "Ernie," NOT "Earnie." Etymologically it might be the same in meaning, though the spelling "Earnie" comes across as more British than American, I think, not that Oscar the Grouch would care. But Oscar's sidewalk trash bin on Sesame Street IS a bit too shabby for HRM.
Ah; my ignorance exposed. I'd not seen 'Ernie' spelled, so just went on the phonetics. Just goes to show you shouldn't make assumptions, eh?
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