serious

Meanings

Adjective

• Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition
• Important; weighty; not insignificant
• Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving
• Committed.

Adverb

• In a serious manner; seriously.

Related

Opposite words

• trifling, unimportant
• jesting

Origin

• From Middle English seryows, from Old French serieux, from Medieval Latin sēriōsus, an extension of Latin sērius ("grave, earnest, serious"), from Proto-Indo-European *swer- ("heavy"). Cognate with German schwer ("heavy, difficult, severe"), Old English swǣr ("heavy, grave, grievous"). More at swear, sweer.