importune

im·por·tune

adjective

The definition of importune is requests that are urgent and often.
An example of importune used as an adjective is importune barking, the begging of a dog to go outside.

verb

To importune is defined as to ask for something over and over.
An example of to importune is to beg someone for money.

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"importune." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 31 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune>.

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importune. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune

importune

transitive verb

-·tuned′, -·tun′ing

to trouble with requests or demands; urge or entreat persistently or repeatedly
Archaic to ask for urgently; demand
Obs. to trouble; annoy

Origin of importune

French importuner from the adjective

to make urgent requests or demands

Rare importunate

Origin of importune

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

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MLA Style

"importune." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 31 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune>.

APA Style

importune. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune

importune

verb

im·por·tuned, im·por·tun·ing, im·por·tunes

verb

transitive

To make an earnest request of (someone), especially insistently or repeatedly: “A dozen reporters importuned every passing ambassador to speak to them” ( Felicity Barringer )
Archaic
a. To ask for (something) urgently or repeatedly.
b. To annoy; vex.

verb

intransitive

To plead or urge irksomely, often persistently.

adjective

Archaic

Importunate.

Origin of importune

French importuner from Old French importun inopportune from Latin importūnus in- not ; see in- ¹. portus port, refuge ; see per-² in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

im′por·tune′ly
adverb

im′por·tun′er
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"importune." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 31 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune>.

APA Style

importune. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune

Verb

(third-person singular simple present importunes, present participle importuning, simple past and past participle importuned)

To bother, trouble, irritate.
To harass with persistent requests.
To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals.

Adjective

(comparative more importune, superlative most importune)

Francis Bacon
Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual.

Origin

From Middle French importuner, from Medieval Latin importunari (“to make oneself troublesome”), from Latin importunus (“unfit, troublesome”), originally "having no harbor"

See also: importuné

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"importune." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 31 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune>.

APA Style

importune. (n.d.). Retrieved January 31st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Importune

importune

importune

importune

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importune

importune

importune

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