The Collaborative International Dictionary
Earnest \Ear"nest\, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha, arrhabo, Gr. 'arrabw`n, of Semitic origin, cf. Heb. [=e]r[=a]v[=o]n; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr. L. arra. Cf. Arles, Earles penny.]
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Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come.
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
--2 Cor. i. 2 -
And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death.
--Shak.2. (Law) Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale.
--Kent. Ayliffe. Benjamin.Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.
Syn: Earnest, Pledge.
Usage: These words are here compared as used in their figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest, like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability, that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited, affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their ultimate triumph.
Wiktionary
n. Money paid as a deposit to show intent to buy or to reserve an item to be purchased; especially, money accompanying an offer to buy real estate.
WordNet
n. money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract
Usage examples of "earnest money".
Some chiliasts who believed in the earlier dates had begun giving away their wealth to the poor, in part because it would soon be worthless anyway and in part as earnest money to God, a bribe for the Advent.
I will need a small sum-say five thousand sequins-as earnest money.