importune

The definition of importune is requests that are urgent and often.

(adjective)

An example of importune used as an adjective is importune barking, the begging of a dog to go outside.

To importune is defined as to ask for something over and over.

(verb)

An example of to importune is to beg someone for money.

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See importune in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb importuned, importuning

  1. to trouble with requests or demands; urge or entreat persistently or repeatedly
  2. Archaic to ask for urgently; demand
  3. Obsolete
    1. to trouble; annoy
    2. to impel

Origin: Fr importuner < the adj.

intransitive verb

to make urgent requests or demands

adjective

Rare importunate

Origin: ME < OFr importun < L importunus, unsuitable, troublesome < in-, not + (op) < portunus: see opportune

Related Forms:

See importune in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb im·por·tuned, im·por·tun·ing, im·por·tunes
verb, transitive
  1. To beset with insistent or repeated requests; entreat pressingly.
  2. Archaic To ask for urgently or repeatedly.
  3. To annoy; vex.
verb, intransitive
To plead or urge irksomely, often persistently. See Synonyms at beg.
adjective
Importunate.

Origin:

Origin: French importuner

Origin: , from Old French importun, inopportune

Origin: , from Latin importūnus

Origin: : in-, not; see in-1

Origin: + portus, port, refuge; see per-2 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • imˌpor·tuneˈly adverb
  • imˌpor·tunˈer noun

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