Earnestness

Pronunciation

Origin

earnest + -ness

Full definition of earnestness

Noun

1. The quality of being earnest; sincerity; seriousness.
• 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Gameshttp://www.avclub.com/articles/the-hunger-games,71293/She’s joined, on the boys’ side, by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), a baker’s son whose earnestness masks a gift for strategy that Katniss lacks.