importune
verb
- to ask or request something of pressingly or persistently
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/ / /ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/ / /ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English importune, inportune, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun and its etymon Classical Latin importūnus.
- Grievous, severe, exacting.
“And therewithall he fiercely at him flew, / And with importune outrage him assayld [...].”
- Inopportune; unseasonable.
- Troublesome; vexatious; persistent.
“And their importune fates all satisfide.”
“Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual.”
noun
Etymology: From Middle English importune, inportune, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun and its etymon Classical Latin importūnus.
- Synonym of importuner.
“And yet in ſome Courts it is otherwiſe vſed, for in Spaine it is thought very vndecent for a Courtier to craue, ſuppoſing that it is the part of an importune: […]”
“Which ſhew that importunate People will affirm any Thing, to ſerve Turns, though never fo ſenſeleſs; hoping ſome, that underſtand little, or are very willing, will give credit upon their Authority: And, if Juſtice muſt ſtay till ſuch Importunes are ſatisfied, there’s a ne plus ultra of all Law.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle French importuner and its etymon Medieval Latin importūnor (“to make oneself troublesome”), from Latin importūnus (“unfit, troublesome”), originally "having no harbor".
- To bother, irritate, trouble.
“To deliberate, be it but in slight matters, doth importune me.”
“But I will no longer importune my young cousin.”
- To harass with persistent requests.
“Gentlemen, importune me no farther, / For hovv I firmly am reſolu'd you knovv: / That is, not to beſtovv my yongeſt daughter, / Before I haue a husband for the elder: […]”
“You were kneel'd to, & importun'd otherwiſe / By all of vs; […]”
- To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals.
- To import; to signify.
“It importunes death.”