earnest

Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.

Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest.

That high All-Seer which I dallied with / Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head / And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest.

Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)

To be serious with; use in earnest.

Let's prove among ourselves our armes in jest, That when we come to earnest them with men, We may them better use.

Serious, sincere, ingenuous.

Focused in the pursuit of an objective; honestly eager to obtain or do.

earnest prayers

Intent; focused; showing a lot of concentration.

earnest attention

Possessing or characterised by seriousness.

an earnest disposition

Strenuous; diligent.

earnest efforts