IMPORTUNE

importune, insist

(verb) beg persistently and urgently; “I importune you to help them”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

importune (third-person singular simple present importunes, present participle importuning, simple past and past participle importuned)

To bother, trouble, irritate.

To harass with persistent requests.

To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals.

(obsolete) To import; to signify.

Adjective

importune (comparative more importune, superlative most importune)

(obsolete) Grievous, severe, exacting.

(obsolete) Inopportune; unseasonable.

(obsolete) Troublesome; vexatious; persistent.

Anagrams

• entropium

Source: Wiktionary


Im`por*tune", a. Etym: [F. importun, L. importunus; pref. im- not + a derivative from the root of portus harbor, importunus therefore orig. meaning, hard of access. See Port harbor, and cf. Importunate.]

1. Inopportune; unseasonable. [Obs.]

2. Troublesome; vexatious; persistent; urgent; hence, vexatious on account of untimely urgency or perinacious solicitation. [Obs.] And their importune fates all satisfied. Spenser. Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual. Bacon.

Im`por*tune", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Importuned; p. pr. & vb. n. Importuning.] Etym: [From Importune, a.: cf. F. importuner.]

1. To request or solicit, with urgency; to press with frequent, unreasonable, or troublesome application or pertinacity; hence, to tease; to irritate; to worry. Their ministers and residents here have perpetually importuned the court with unreasonable demands. Swift.

2. To import; to signify. [Obs.] "It importunes death." Spenser.

Im`por*tune", v. i.

Definition: To require; to demand. [Obs.] We shall write to you, As time and our concernings shall importune. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

24 January 2025

AGITATION

(noun) a state of agitation or turbulent change or development; “the political ferment produced new leadership”; “social unrest”


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