importune — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To bother, irritate, trouble.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   To deliberate, be it but in slight matters, doth importune me.

   But I will no longer importune my young cousin.

2. To harass with persistent requests.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Gentlemen, importune me no farther, / For hovv I firmly am reſolu'd you knovv: / That is, not to beſtovv my yongeſt daughter, / Before I haue a husband for the elder: […]

   You were kneel'd to, & importun'd otherwiſe / By all of vs; […]

   More examples (1)

   [W]e 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, under which our late Miniſters thought fit to be Paſſive.

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

   Usage

   • Transitive

4. To import; to signify.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   It importunes death.

Adjective

1. Grievous, severe, exacting.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   And therewithall he fiercely at him flew, / And with importune outrage him assayld [...].

2. Inopportune; unseasonable.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

3. Troublesome; vexatious; persistent.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   And their importune fates all satisfide.

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

Noun

1. Synonym of importuner.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   And yet in ſome Courts it is otherwiſe vſed, for in Spaine it is thought very vndecent for a Courtier to craue, ſuppoſing that it is the part of an importune: […]

   Which ſhew that importunate People will affirm any Thing, to ſerve Turns, though never fo ſenſeleſs; hoping ſome, that underſtand little, or are very willing, will give credit upon their Authority: And, if Juſtice muſt ſtay till ſuch Importunes are ſatisfied, there’s a ne plus ultra of all Law.

   The Priests of the Holy Land sent me a letter he had written them about me thanking them for their civility to me, & desiring they wd. serve me in every thing &c, therefore these confounded importunes laid themselves at my feet, but his letter was admirable, nobody ever saw such a thing, his coats of Arms printed upon a paper as large as a gazette extraordinary and full as large as my hand open!!!

Verb

1. beg persistently and urgently

   Synonyms

   insist

   Broader terms

   begimplorepray

   Examples

   I importune you to help them