Importune

  • 1Importune — Im por*tune ([i^]m p[o^]r*t[=u]n ), a. [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;… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2importune — im·por·tune /ˌim pȯr tün, tyün; im pȯr ˌtyün, chən/ vb tuned, tun·ing vt: to press or urge with troublesome persistence who solicits, requests, commands, importune s or intentionally aids another person to engage in conduct which constitutes an …

    Law dictionary

  • 3Importune — Im por*tune , v. i. To require; to demand. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] We shall write to you, As time and our concernings shall importune. Shak. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4Importune — Im por*tune , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Importuned} ([i^]m p[o^]r*t[=u]nd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Importuning}.] [From {Importune}, a.: cf. F. importuner.] 1. To request or solicit, with urgency; to press with frequent, unreasonable, or troublesome… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5importuné — importuné, ée (in por tu né, née) part. passé d importuner. •   Du bruit de ses exploits mon âme importunée, RAC. Alex. I, 2. •   Il était moins sensible à l éclat du trône qu importuné des devoirs qu il impose, DUCLOS Hist. Louis XI, Oeuv. t. II …

    Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • 6importune — (v.) 1520s, back formation from IMPORTUNITY (Cf. importunity), or else from M.Fr. importuner, from M.L. importunari to make oneself troublesome, from L. importunus unfit, troublesome, originally having no harbor (i.e. difficult to access ), from… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 7importune — *beg, entreat, beseech, implore, supplicate, adjure Analogous words: tease, pester, plague, harry, *worry: hound, hector, badger (see BAIT): plead, appeal, sue (see under PRAYER) …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 8importune — [v] demand, insist appeal, ask, badger, beg, beseech, beset, besiege, con*, crave, dun, egg on*, entreat, goose*, harass, hound*, implore, invoke, nag, persuade, pester, plague, plead, pray, press, sell, solicit, supplicate, urge, work on*;… …

    New thesaurus

  • 9importuné — Importuné, [importun]ée. part …

    Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • 10importune — ► VERB 1) harass with persistent requests. 2) (usu. as noun importuning) approach to offer one s services as a prostitute. ORIGIN Latin importunari, from importunus (see IMPORTUNATE(Cf. ↑importunity)) …

    English terms dictionary