earnest – payment

(Pronounced ur-nist)

The word earnest is found in act 1, scene 3, line 102 of Macbeth Shakespeare.

"And for an earnest of a greater honour, he bade me, from him, call the Thane of Cawdor."

To remember the definition of the word earnest, use the following mnemonic:

You have earned enough for a small nest (earnest). No! My payment should be a big nest.