Crossword clues for importune
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Importune \Im`por*tune"\, v. i. To require; to demand. [Obs.]
We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune.
--Shak.
Importune \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.]
Inopportune; unseasonable. [Obs.]
-
Troublesome; vexatious; persistent; urgent; hence, vexatious on account of untimely urgency or pertinacious solicitation. [Obs.]
And their importune fates all satisfied.
--Spenser.Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual.
--Bacon.
Importune \Im`por*tune"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Importuned ([i^]m`p[o^]r*t[=u]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Importuning.]
-
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. To import; to signify. [Obs.] ``It importunes death.''
--Spenser.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1520s, back-formation from importunity, or else from Middle French importuner, from Medieval Latin importunari "to make oneself troublesome," from Latin importunus "unfit, troublesome," originally "having no harbor" (i.e. "difficult to access"), from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + portus "harbor" (see port (n.1)). Related: Importuned; importuning. As an adjective from early 15c.
Wiktionary
1 (context obsolete English) grievous, severe, exacting. 2 (context obsolete English) inopportune; unseasonable 3 (context obsolete English) troublesome; vexatious; persistent v
1 To bother, trouble, irritate. 2 To harass with persistent requests. 3 To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals. 4 (context obsolete English) To import; to signify.
WordNet
v. beg persistently and urgently; "I importune you to help them" [syn: insist]
Usage examples of "importune".
The importuning chits more closely resembled grasping harpies than innocent maidens hoping to catch his eye.
It was then that Orthis began to importune the government to permit him to set out with the new craft that was now completed.
She wrote me a letter, in which she importuned me to come and see her at a certain hour on important business.
He had avoided the dancing girls and the low dives, though Aziz had often importuned him to come along.
Giwo had received her dismissal than the men about town importuned her with messages to appear at their banquets and sent her gifts daily, but Giwo hid herself at home and refused to see anyone.
They were importuned at every step by brokers thrusting catalogues on them, with offers of their services, yet they soon got to the table.
This was the consideration that incessantly prompted, and still importunes me to run every risk of life and fortune, rather than leave my fame under such an ignominious aspersion.
Other tradesmen clamored at him from their stalls, for the most part automatically after assessing him as a poor prospect, and turned to importune the better-dressed uptunnel slummers and unwary tourists from the starships docked at Phobos.
As they entered, brothel steerers, pushers, vendors, all manner of commission men and women and several beggars began yelling and importuning.
Importuning her in strangest, Sweetest tones to buy their fruits:- O be careful that thou changest, On returning home, thy boots.
So gan the rest him likewise to require,But Britomart did him importune hard,To take on him that paine: whose great desireHe glad to satisfie, him selfe prepar'dTo tell through what misfortune he had far'd,In that atchieuement, as to him befell.
It is an affair of different complection when he is importuned to give time and attention to the innumerable unknown who "collect" autographs as they would collect postage stamps, with no interest in the matter beyond the desire to accumulate as many as possible.
Caesar, on being informed of their acts, since he saw that war was being prepared on all sides, that the Nervii, Aduatuci, and Menapii, with the addition of all the Germans on this side of the Rhine were under arms, that the Senones did not assemble according to his command, and were concerting measures with the Carnutes and the neighboring states, that the Germans were importuned by the Treviri in frequent embassies, thought that he ought to take measures for the war earlier [than usual].
He then adds that these muscles, from their attachment and position, are fitted "à resserrer, à concentrer les principaux traits de la face, comme il convient dans toutes ces passions vraiment oppressives ou profondes, dans ces affections dont le sentiment semble porter l'organisation à revenir sur elle-même, à se contracter et à s'amoindrir, comme pour offrir moins de prise et de surface à des impressions redoutables ou importunes.
To the sellers in the market, to the barmen and barmaids, to the beggars who importuned him for a lob Mr Dedalus told the same tale - that he was an old Corkonian, that he had been trying for thirty years to get rid of his Cork accent up in Dublin and that Peter Pickackafax beside him was his eldest son but that he was only a Dublin jackeen.