Definitions for importune
ˌɪm pɔrˈtun, -ˈtyun, ɪmˈpɔr tʃənim·por·tune

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. importune, insistverb

   beg persistently and urgently

   "I importune you to help them"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. importuneverb

   To bother, trouble, irritate.

2. importuneverb

   To harass with persistent requests.

3. importuneverb

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

4. importuneadjective

   Grievous, severe, exacting.

5. Etymology: From importuner, from importunari, from importunus, originally "having no harbor"

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Importuneadjective

   Etymology: importunus, Latin. It was anciently pronounced with the accent on the second syllable.

   1. Constantly recurring; troublesome by frequency.

   All that charge did fervently apply,
   With greedy malice and importune toil;
   And planted there their huge artillery,
   With which they daily made most dreadful battery. F. Qu.

   Henry, calling himself king of England, needed not to have bestowed such great sums of treasure, nor so to have busied himself with importune and incessant labour and industry, to compass my death and ruin, if I had been such a feigned person. Francis Bacon, Henry VII.

   2. Troublesome; vexatious.

   And th' armies of their creatures all, and some
   Do serve to them, and with importune might
   War against us, the vassals of their will. Edmund Spenser.

   If the upper soul can check what is consented to by the will, in compliance with the flesh, and can then hope that after a few years of sensuality, that importune rebellious servant shall be eternally cast off, this would be some colour for that novel persuasion. Henry Hammond.

   The same airs, which some entertain with most delightful transports, to others are importune. Joseph Glanvill, Scep.

   3. Unreasonable; coming, asking, or happening at a wrong time.

   No fair to thine
   Equivalent, or second! which compell'd
   Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come
   And gaze and worship thee. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. ix.

2. To IMPORTUNEverb

   To teize; to harass with slight vexation perpetually recurring; to molest.

   Etymology: importuner, French; importunus, Latin. Accented anciently on the second syllable.

   Against all sense you do importune her. William Shakespeare.

   If he espied any lewd gaiety in his fellow-servants, his master should straightways know it, and not rest free from importuning, until the fellow had put away his fault. Carew.

   The bloom of beauty other years demands,
   Nor will be gather'd by such wither'd hands:
   You importune it with a false desire. John Dryden, Aurengzebe.

   The highest saint in the celestial hierarchy began to be so impertinently importuned, that a great part of the liturgy was addressed solely to her. James Howell, Vocal Forest.

   Every one hath experimented this troublesome intrusion of some striking ideas, which thus importune the understanding, and hinder it from being employed. John Locke.

   We have been obliged to hire troops from several princes of the empire, whose ministers and residents here have perpetually importuned the court with unreasonable demands. Jonathan Swift.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Importuneadjective

   to request or solicit, with urgency; to press with frequent, unreasonable, or troublesome application or pertinacity; hence, to tease; to irritate; to worry

2. Importuneadjective

   to import; to signify

3. Importuneverb

   to require; to demand

4. Etymology: [From Importune, a.: cf. F. importuner.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Importune

   im-pōr-tūn′, v.t. to urge with troublesome application: to press urgently: (Spens.) to import, signify (a false use): to molest, as a beggar, prostitute, &c.—ns. Impor′tunacy, Import′unāteness.—adj. Import′unāte, troublesomely urgent.—adv. Import′unātely.—adj. Import′une, untimely: importunate.—adv. Importune′ly.—ns. Importun′er; Importun′ity. [Fr.,—L. importunus—in, not, portus, a harbour.]

Matched Categories

1. • Beg

Anagrams for importune »

1. entropium

How to pronounce importune?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say importune in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of importune in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of importune in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of importune in a Sentence

1. Link Starbureiy:

   There are only two ways to look at history: people either make things happen, or they let things happen. In that sense, all of history is bipolar; cognate of goodwill and bad fortune. Both philosophies, together, importune a reshaping of destiny.

2. W. Somerset Maugham:

   If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed, than by making answer because it was he, because it was I.

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=importune
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Importune
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=importune
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/importune
5. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=importune