importunate
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L337548 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpɔːtjʊnət/ / /ɪmˈpɔɹt͡ʃənət/ / /ɪmˈpɔːtjuːneɪt/ / /ɪmˈpɔɹtjuːneɪt/
adj
Etymology: First attested in 1477, in Middle english; from Latin importūnus + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), modelled on Middle French importuné. By surface analysis, importune + -ate. The noun was substantivized from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
- Persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so.
“Nick was on the point of declaring again that he was a humbug, so vivid was his inner sense of what he thought of his factitious public utterances, which had the cursed property of creating dreadful responsibilities and importunate credulities for him.”
“Trembling in every limb I raise my loud importunate cry, And in a sacred terror wait the Delian god’s reply.”
- Given to importunate demands, greedily or thoughtlessly demanding.
“[...] if you reprimand or punish them, be assured every one will consider you importunate as well as ridiculous.”
noun
Etymology: First attested in 1477, in Middle english; from Latin importūnus + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), modelled on Middle French importuné. By surface analysis, importune + -ate. The noun was substantivized from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
- An importuner.
“This will put an Answer into the Kings mouth, against all importunates.”
verb
Etymology: First attested in 1574; adapted borrowing of French importuner (“to bother, disturb”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
- To importune, or to obtain by importunity.
“All which notwithstanding, I obtained licence at length to make my supplication to the noble Parliament house; but I could find no messengers till Sir John Seton went, whom I importunated daily to obtain me favor for my return home again.”
“Is my work ended? The fear of importunating my friends answers, “Yes.””