A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Ernen], v. to earn, MD; arnen, MD.—AS. earnian: OHG. arnón, to reap a harvest (Otfrid), from arno, harvest: Goth. asans.

[ Ernen], v. to run, S; see [Rennen].

[ Ernes], sb. a pledge, earnest, MD, W; ernest, S2; ernesse, dat., S.—OF. ernes, prob. for *erles; so in F. guigne the n is for an older l; see Brachet. Cf. [Arles].

A derivation of this word from the French has not been proved.—OF. ernes does not exist.

[ Ernest], sb. eagerness, seriousness, earnest, C, MD; eornest, MD.—AS. eornest, earnestness: OHG. ernust, sorrow (Tatian).

[ Ernestful], adj. earnest, MD, C2.

[ Ernestly], adv. eagerly, quickly, S2, MD.

[ Ernung], sb. earning, desert, MD; earnynge, S. See [Ernen].

[ Erraunt], adj. vagabond, arrant, PP, MD.—OF. errant, wandering, vagabond (Cotg.). See [Erren].

[ Erre], sb. a scar, wound, Voc. (680. 1); arre, NEI; ar, HD; arr, JD; erres, pl., H, NED. Cp. Dan. ar, Icel. ör, örr.