importunateadj.n.

Brit.

/ɪmˈpɔːtjᵿnət/,

/ɪmˈpɔːtʃᵿnət/,

/ɪmˈpɔːtʃn̩ət/, U.S.

/ᵻmˈpɔrtʃ(ə)nət/

Forms: late Middle English inportunat, late Middle English–1500s importunat, late Middle English– importunate, 1600s ymportunate.

Origin: A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element; partly modelled on a French lexical item. Etymons: Latin importūnus , -ate suffix².

Etymology: < classical Latin importūnus importune adj. + -ate suffix², partly after Middle French importuné (of a person) persistent or pressing in making requests or offers (a1475), burdensome (1483 in the passage translated in quot. 1490). Compare importunately adv. and earlier importune adj.

A. adj.

1. Of a person: persistent or pressing in making requests or offers, esp. to an irritating or distressing degree. Of a request, offer, etc.: made persistently or pressingly.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > [adjective]

unwearyc893

unwearieda1240

perseverant1340

continuing1393

persevering?a1425

importunate1477

infatigable?1510

unfatigablec1550

persisting1552

unweariable1561

holdfast1567

indefatigable1586

patient1590

faintless1593

untired1597

untired1600

assidual1605

unrelenting1606

persistive1609

unwearyinga1614

hard1615

indefesse1621

constant1639

assiduous1660

dogged1700

unremitting1730

inexhaustible1762

unremitted1774

untiring1823

persistent1830

sleuth1864

tug-like1890

1477 [implied in: Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 69 He that axid inportunatly after he is ones denied & refused his asking. (at importunately adv. 4)].

1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. ccix. f. cclxvi/2 The lady made importunate sewte to haue iudgement.

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. F.vj^v I am importune on you, that ye be not importunate on me [Fr. Ie t'importune, que ne m'importunes]. I pray you, that you praie not me.

1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xviii. f. 42 Declaryng how importunate his mother was, to knowe.

1656 in J. A. Clyde Hope's Major Practicks (1937) I. 71 To the effect the Quein be not molested with importunat solicitations.

1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides 44 The King..was importunate to know what they intended to do with Him.

1746 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 53 Some of the Persons who supplied me with them grow Importunate for their money.

1787 J. Fraser Answer to Charges R. Stewart 119 I..became very importunate with Colonel Hannay to adjust the account.

1863 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Victory ii For the avoidance of importunate creditors.

1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda I. i. ii. 29 Now came an importunate knock at the door; breakfast was ready.

1952 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 22 June (1995) 163 It is a great blessing to have importunate and determined friends who will not let one relapse into permanent silence.

2003 Washington Monthly June 42/2 One importunate suitor finally gave his iron-knickered lady a silver charm engraved with the words, ‘We'll see.’

†a. Burdensome, heavy, difficult to bear; grievous, grave. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > attended by or causing affliction

eileOE

soreOE

unselec1050

evilc1175

derfa1225

stourc1275

feeble1297

illa1325

fella1400

unhappya1400

unwealful1412

importunea1425

noisomea1450

shrewd1482

importunable?c1485

importunate1490

funestal1538

nippingc1550

troublesome1552

pinching1563

grievesome1568

afflicting1573

afflictive1576

pressing1591

lacerating1609

funest1636

funestous1641

gravaminous1659

unkind1682

plightful1721

damning1798

acanthocladous1858

damnatory1858

fraught1966

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or exacting

importunea1425

importunate1490

exacting1635

1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xxi. sig. Fij O right grete loue Importunate [Fr. O tresgrant amour importunee] to whome alle thinge diffycile, semeth to be facile for to come to her entent.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. iii^v Beyng not hable to suffre the importunate heate, they cast away the shetes & all the clothes.

?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 102 An importunate number of the barbarus people beeganne to moleste the Romaine imperie.

1577 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Three Bookes i. f. 13 This Water is good for..large and importunate diseases.

a1667 A. Cowley Of Solitude 91 in Wks. (1668) v When they are in love with a Mistriss, all other persons are importunate and burdensome to them.

1720 Hist. Life & Adventures D. Campbell Ep. Ded. p. xvi It [sc. a talisman] dissipates Melancholy, drives away all importunate Cares, and banishes panick Fears from the Mind.

1824 C. Lamb in London Mag. Sept. 226/2 The pride of ancestry may be had on cheaper terms than to be obliged to an importunate race of ancestors.

b. That constitutes a nuisance or inconvenience; persistently troublesome; annoying, irritating, irksome. Frequently (esp. in later use) applied to insects and other pests.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [adjective] > harassing

griefa1300

grievous13..

travailinga1450

importunatea1500

unportunatea1533

importunable1566

infestive1570

infestuous1593

plaguey1595

infestious1597

importunous1598

obsidious1615

vexatious?1626

pestifying1716

harassing1833

obsidional1879

infesting1881

obseding1885

a1500 (a1450) tr. Secreta Secret. (Ashm. 396) (1977) 107 (MED) Whos chekebone..ben light and prolix, that shewith an importunat claterer.

?1535 tr. M. Luther Treat. Good Workes sig. f. i^v This vyce..is so subtyll, obstynate, importunate, and stryuynge agaynste hym that wolde cast it out.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 722 This New World..hath to these importunate chapmen sold her freedome.

1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness iii. ii. 60 [The Sun] cannot..free his own face of those importunate spots that ever and anon lie upon it like filth.

1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) ii. 100 Lice, Fleas, and other noisom and importunate Insects.

1759 tr. M. Adanson Voy. Senegal 77 It was interrupted every moment, by the loud and importunate cries of a kind of bird, which the Negroes call uett-uett.

1790 E. Helme tr. F. Le Vaillant Trav. Afr. II. 304 My hottentots themselves were not entirely exempt from the attacks of these importunate vermin [sc. fleas].

1820 G. A. Otis tr. C. Botta Hist. War Independence U.S.A. I. i. 1 Dispersing or destroying pernicious or importunate animals.

1884 Furnit. Gaz. 24 May 433/1 Another plan is to have adjustable shelves..and leave no nooks and corners for the importunate dust.

1938 Times 20 Aug. 6/4 The application of wet washing soda..to the wound made by the sting of one of these importunate insects [sc. wasps] gives immediate relief.

2012 M. Frayn Skios xxxix. 201 Two dark spots had appeared in the air between his eyes and the page like importunate flies.

†3. Inopportune, untimely, unseasonable; = importune adj. 3. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [adjective]

untimec1000

untidya1225

untimesa1300

out of season1377

undue1398

out of time1483

untimeousa1500

importunate1529

inopportune1533

importunea1535

unconvenable1542

intempestive1548

unseasonable1561

untimeable1570

out-of-season1574

untimely1581

unseasoned1589

baldc1590

timeless1590

melancounterous?1602

untimelessa1607

unopportune1653

mistimelyc1680

mistimed1687

ill-timed1692

ill-seasoned1843

unchancy1860

intempestuous1885

unseasonal1935

the mind > language > speech > request > [adjective] > importunate

onwileOE

importune?1406

instant1477

importunate1529

urgent1548

important1591

importuning1599

instancing1606

clamorous1621

precarious1655

craving1668

clamanta1687

1529 [implied in: T. More Supplyc. Soulys i. f. i^v We..do..not yet importunatly byreue you of your reste with cryenge at your eares at vnseasonable tyme. (at importunately adv. 1)].

1538 T. Elyot Dict. Importunus, out of seson, importunate.

1606 Bp. J. Hall Arte Diuine Medit. vii. 35 Either breake through thy lettes..or if they bee importunate, pay thy selfe the time that was vnseasonably borrowed.

1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. iv. iv. 105 The inexorable executor of this importunate and unseasonable Command, was first chased away with stones.

1847 Standard 20 Sept. At any other time we should feel that an inquiry..would seem importunate and unseasonable, but now.., the subject is unhappily too well suited to the times.

4. That requires or claims attention; pressing, urgent. Also: constantly or repeatedly active or happening, busy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [adjective] > on hand or claiming attention

importune1449

importunatea1533

a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1535) vii. f. 12 My spirite is betwene the harde anuelde & the importunate hammer [Fr. le marteau importun].

1543 Acts 34 & 35 Henry VIII c. 2. sig. A.vi If..the sayd collectours..can not be thervnto admytted, by reason of importunate busynes.

1603 R. Rogers Seuen Treat. iv. xiii. 352 Through necessitie of importunate businesse at some time.

1659 W. Birchley Catholiques Plea 45 Being called into the Country by an urgent and importunate occasion, I am disabled to give any farther account.

1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiv. 437 The Earl remain'd in London whilst the enquiry was warm and importunate.

a1765 in E. Young Wks. (1778) VI. 101 Prudence for all things points the proper hour, Though some seem more importunate and great.

1855 Crayon 10 Jan. 25/1 This maze of dusty streets, For ever shaken by the importunate jar Of commerce.

1858 Titan Sept. 268/1 A strong eager flood of more importunate matters..quite washed away all memory of the business she had come out upon.

1918 Med. & Surg. Jan. 96 Invariably the windows were closed to keep out the importunate roar of Ludgate Circus.

2008 J. S. Nye Powers to Lead iv. 102 Sometimes urgency merely means an importunate or pressing problem that persists over long periods.

B. n.

A person who is overly persistent or troublesome in soliciting or making requests; an importuner.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > one who requests or petitions

callerc1503

customer1542

entreater1588

importunate1642

1642 J. Pym Worthy Speech Evill Counsellors sig. A4^v This will put an Answer into the Kings mouth, against all importunates.

1808 tr. J. F. Bourgoing Mod. State of Spain ix. 242 She had stationed during several years some prying importunates exactly in the centre of her American possessions.

1881 Jrnl. Educ. Mar. 49/2 He would have granted the fair importunates the examination without restriction.

1914 Dial 1 Aug. 70/1 Few such importunates succeed in eliciting from their victims so rare an epistolary gem as that recently made public by Mr. Lloyd Osborne.

2003 P. Lively Photograph 215 Kath observed the lame ducks, the hangers-on... Once, when they were alone after a succession of such importunates, she said, ‘Am I like that?’

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

importunatev.

Brit.

/ɪmˈpɔːtjᵿneɪt/,

/ɪmˈpɔːtʃᵿneɪt/, U.S.

/ᵻmˈpɔrtʃ(ə)ˌneɪt/

Origin: Apparently a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: importune v.

Etymology: Apparently an alteration (after verbs in -ate suffix³) of importune v. Compare earlier importunate adj.

Now rare.

1. transitive. To ask or request something of (a person) persistently or pressingly; = importune v. 1.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > request > request or ask for [verb (transitive)] > urge or importune

depressc1400

nurnc1400

pressc1440

labourc1450

instancea1513

instanta1513

importune1530

to lie at, upon1535

apply1559

urge1568

importunate1574

ply1581

to put on ——?a1600

flagitate1623

besiege1712

earwig1804

bone1856

tout1920

S.O.S.a1936

opportune1941

1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Familiar Epist. 258 You doe me great griefe to importunate me [Sp. importunarme] so often to declare that which you vnderstand not.

1600 L. Lewkenor tr. A. de Torquemada Spanish Mandeuile f. 85^v Telling him that she was Lucrecia..and importunating him with weeping and pittifull wordes.

1653 Cloria & Narcissus 117 Orestes..began freshly to importunate his brother to the accomplishment of her request.

1740 H. Adams Let. 1 Jan. in Coll. Hist. & Misc. 2 (1823) 281 I've been Prayerfully Importunating Our Lord Emmanuel Jesus the Prince Of the Kings of The Earth.

1851 G. A. Scherpf Appeal to Public ii. 35 He in that time frequently saw Dr. Henschel, whom he much importunated for loans.

1898 Newcastle Weekly Courant 17 Dec. 1/2 (advt.) Ladies are invited to inspect our novelties, and are not importunated to purchase.

1911 Manitoba Free Press 24 Apr. 24/4 He importunated them to be men and women in the true sense of the word.

1988 S. B. Shrotri tr. H. Oldenberg Relig. Veda (1993) 346 Numerous priests, in their bustling loquacious fashion, are busy importunating the gods and humouring them.

2. transitive. To ask for or obtain by persistent solicitation or entreaty.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain or acquire in a certain way > by asking, entreaty, or importunity

getc1330

emprent?c1400

impetrea1450

impetrate1533

importunate1605

to worm (a person) out of1617

exorate1623

wheedle1670

stout1812

1605 E. Sandys Relation State of Relig. sig. M2^v Some..in other places are said to have importunated & obtained some out chappell to have their Masse in.

1702 C. Brockwell tr. S. von Pufendorf Compl. Hist. Sweden 17 When Roller's Subjects Revolted against him, he importunated the Aid of the Swedes and Danes.

1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 July 2/3 The degree of departure which outside bodies had been able to importunate from a somewhat pliant Senate.

1910 Christian Workers Mag. Oct. 85/1 Might we not have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives..if we importunated it?

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	importunate
释义	importunateadj.n. Brit. /ɪmˈpɔːtjᵿnət/, /ɪmˈpɔːtʃᵿnət/, /ɪmˈpɔːtʃn̩ət/, U.S. /ᵻmˈpɔrtʃ(ə)nət/ Forms: late Middle English inportunat, late Middle English–1500s importunat, late Middle English– importunate, 1600s ymportunate. Origin: A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element; partly modelled on a French lexical item. Etymons: Latin importūnus , -ate suffix². Etymology: < classical Latin importūnus importune adj. + -ate suffix², partly after Middle French importuné (of a person) persistent or pressing in making requests or offers (a1475), burdensome (1483 in the passage translated in quot. 1490). Compare importunately adv. and earlier importune adj. A. adj. 1. Of a person: persistent or pressing in making requests or offers, esp. to an irritating or distressing degree. Of a request, offer, etc.: made persistently or pressingly. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > [adjective] unwearyc893 unwearieda1240 perseverant1340 continuing1393 persevering?a1425 importunate1477 infatigable?1510 unfatigablec1550 persisting1552 unweariable1561 holdfast1567 indefatigable1586 patient1590 faintless1593 untired1597 untired1600 assidual1605 unrelenting1606 persistive1609 unwearyinga1614 hard1615 indefesse1621 constant1639 assiduous1660 dogged1700 unremitting1730 inexhaustible1762 unremitted1774 untiring1823 persistent1830 sleuth1864 tug-like1890 1477 [implied in: Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 69 He that axid inportunatly after he is ones denied & refused his asking. (at importunately adv. 4)]. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. ccix. f. cclxvi/2 The lady made importunate sewte to haue iudgement. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. F.vj^v I am importune on you, that ye be not importunate on me [Fr. Ie t'importune, que ne m'importunes]. I pray you, that you praie not me. 1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xviii. f. 42 Declaryng how importunate his mother was, to knowe. 1656 in J. A. Clyde Hope's Major Practicks (1937) I. 71 To the effect the Quein be not molested with importunat solicitations. 1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides 44 The King..was importunate to know what they intended to do with Him. 1746 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 53 Some of the Persons who supplied me with them grow Importunate for their money. 1787 J. Fraser Answer to Charges R. Stewart 119 I..became very importunate with Colonel Hannay to adjust the account. 1863 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Victory ii For the avoidance of importunate creditors. 1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda I. i. ii. 29 Now came an importunate knock at the door; breakfast was ready. 1952 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 22 June (1995) 163 It is a great blessing to have importunate and determined friends who will not let one relapse into permanent silence. 2003 Washington Monthly June 42/2 One importunate suitor finally gave his iron-knickered lady a silver charm engraved with the words, ‘We'll see.’ 2. †a. Burdensome, heavy, difficult to bear; grievous, grave. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > [adjective] > attended by or causing affliction eileOE soreOE unselec1050 evilc1175 derfa1225 stourc1275 feeble1297 illa1325 fella1400 unhappya1400 unwealful1412 importunea1425 noisomea1450 shrewd1482 importunable?c1485 importunate1490 funestal1538 nippingc1550 troublesome1552 pinching1563 grievesome1568 afflicting1573 afflictive1576 pressing1591 lacerating1609 funest1636 funestous1641 gravaminous1659 unkind1682 plightful1721 damning1798 acanthocladous1858 damnatory1858 fraught1966 the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or exacting importunea1425 importunate1490 exacting1635 1490 W. Caxton tr. Boke yf Eneydos xxi. sig. Fij O right grete loue Importunate [Fr. O tresgrant amour importunee] to whome alle thinge diffycile, semeth to be facile for to come to her entent. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VII f. iii^v Beyng not hable to suffre the importunate heate, they cast away the shetes & all the clothes. ?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 102 An importunate number of the barbarus people beeganne to moleste the Romaine imperie. 1577 J. Frampton tr. N. Monardes Three Bookes i. f. 13 This Water is good for..large and importunate diseases. a1667 A. Cowley Of Solitude 91 in Wks. (1668) v When they are in love with a Mistriss, all other persons are importunate and burdensome to them. 1720 Hist. Life & Adventures D. Campbell Ep. Ded. p. xvi It [sc. a talisman] dissipates Melancholy, drives away all importunate Cares, and banishes panick Fears from the Mind. 1824 C. Lamb in London Mag. Sept. 226/2 The pride of ancestry may be had on cheaper terms than to be obliged to an importunate race of ancestors. b. That constitutes a nuisance or inconvenience; persistently troublesome; annoying, irritating, irksome. Frequently (esp. in later use) applied to insects and other pests. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [adjective] > harassing griefa1300 grievous13.. travailinga1450 importunatea1500 unportunatea1533 importunable1566 infestive1570 infestuous1593 plaguey1595 infestious1597 importunous1598 obsidious1615 vexatious?1626 pestifying1716 harassing1833 obsidional1879 infesting1881 obseding1885 a1500 (a1450) tr. Secreta Secret. (Ashm. 396) (1977) 107 (MED) Whos chekebone..ben light and prolix, that shewith an importunat claterer. ?1535 tr. M. Luther Treat. Good Workes sig. f. i^v This vyce..is so subtyll, obstynate, importunate, and stryuynge agaynste hym that wolde cast it out. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 722 This New World..hath to these importunate chapmen sold her freedome. 1660 H. More Explan. Grand Myst. Godliness iii. ii. 60 [The Sun] cannot..free his own face of those importunate spots that ever and anon lie upon it like filth. 1692 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 2) ii. 100 Lice, Fleas, and other noisom and importunate Insects. 1759 tr. M. Adanson Voy. Senegal 77 It was interrupted every moment, by the loud and importunate cries of a kind of bird, which the Negroes call uett-uett. 1790 E. Helme tr. F. Le Vaillant Trav. Afr. II. 304 My hottentots themselves were not entirely exempt from the attacks of these importunate vermin [sc. fleas]. 1820 G. A. Otis tr. C. Botta Hist. War Independence U.S.A. I. i. 1 Dispersing or destroying pernicious or importunate animals. 1884 Furnit. Gaz. 24 May 433/1 Another plan is to have adjustable shelves..and leave no nooks and corners for the importunate dust. 1938 Times 20 Aug. 6/4 The application of wet washing soda..to the wound made by the sting of one of these importunate insects [sc. wasps] gives immediate relief. 2012 M. Frayn Skios xxxix. 201 Two dark spots had appeared in the air between his eyes and the page like importunate flies. †3. Inopportune, untimely, unseasonable; = importune adj. 3. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [adjective] untimec1000 untidya1225 untimesa1300 out of season1377 undue1398 out of time1483 untimeousa1500 importunate1529 inopportune1533 importunea1535 unconvenable1542 intempestive1548 unseasonable1561 untimeable1570 out-of-season1574 untimely1581 unseasoned1589 baldc1590 timeless1590 melancounterous?1602 untimelessa1607 unopportune1653 mistimelyc1680 mistimed1687 ill-timed1692 ill-seasoned1843 unchancy1860 intempestuous1885 unseasonal1935 the mind > language > speech > request > [adjective] > importunate onwileOE importune?1406 instant1477 importunate1529 urgent1548 important1591 importuning1599 instancing1606 clamorous1621 precarious1655 craving1668 clamanta1687 1529 [implied in: T. More Supplyc. Soulys i. f. i^v We..do..not yet importunatly byreue you of your reste with cryenge at your eares at vnseasonable tyme. (at importunately adv. 1)]. 1538 T. Elyot Dict. Importunus, out of seson, importunate. 1606 Bp. J. Hall Arte Diuine Medit. vii. 35 Either breake through thy lettes..or if they bee importunate, pay thy selfe the time that was vnseasonably borrowed. 1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival Hist. Iron Age i. iv. iv. 105 The inexorable executor of this importunate and unseasonable Command, was first chased away with stones. 1847 Standard 20 Sept. At any other time we should feel that an inquiry..would seem importunate and unseasonable, but now.., the subject is unhappily too well suited to the times. 4. That requires or claims attention; pressing, urgent. Also: constantly or repeatedly active or happening, busy. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [adjective] > on hand or claiming attention importune1449 importunatea1533 a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1535) vii. f. 12 My spirite is betwene the harde anuelde & the importunate hammer [Fr. le marteau importun]. 1543 Acts 34 & 35 Henry VIII c. 2. sig. A.vi If..the sayd collectours..can not be thervnto admytted, by reason of importunate busynes. 1603 R. Rogers Seuen Treat. iv. xiii. 352 Through necessitie of importunate businesse at some time. 1659 W. Birchley Catholiques Plea 45 Being called into the Country by an urgent and importunate occasion, I am disabled to give any farther account. 1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xiv. 437 The Earl remain'd in London whilst the enquiry was warm and importunate. a1765 in E. Young Wks. (1778) VI. 101 Prudence for all things points the proper hour, Though some seem more importunate and great. 1855 Crayon 10 Jan. 25/1 This maze of dusty streets, For ever shaken by the importunate jar Of commerce. 1858 Titan Sept. 268/1 A strong eager flood of more importunate matters..quite washed away all memory of the business she had come out upon. 1918 Med. & Surg. Jan. 96 Invariably the windows were closed to keep out the importunate roar of Ludgate Circus. 2008 J. S. Nye Powers to Lead iv. 102 Sometimes urgency merely means an importunate or pressing problem that persists over long periods. B. n. A person who is overly persistent or troublesome in soliciting or making requests; an importuner. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > one who requests or petitions callerc1503 customer1542 entreater1588 importunate1642 1642 J. Pym Worthy Speech Evill Counsellors sig. A4^v This will put an Answer into the Kings mouth, against all importunates. 1808 tr. J. F. Bourgoing Mod. State of Spain ix. 242 She had stationed during several years some prying importunates exactly in the centre of her American possessions. 1881 Jrnl. Educ. Mar. 49/2 He would have granted the fair importunates the examination without restriction. 1914 Dial 1 Aug. 70/1 Few such importunates succeed in eliciting from their victims so rare an epistolary gem as that recently made public by Mr. Lloyd Osborne. 2003 P. Lively Photograph 215 Kath observed the lame ducks, the hangers-on... Once, when they were alone after a succession of such importunates, she said, ‘Am I like that?’ This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022). importunatev. Brit. /ɪmˈpɔːtjᵿneɪt/, /ɪmˈpɔːtʃᵿneɪt/, U.S. /ᵻmˈpɔrtʃ(ə)ˌneɪt/ Origin: Apparently a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: importune v. Etymology: Apparently an alteration (after verbs in -ate suffix³) of importune v. Compare earlier importunate adj. Now rare. 1. transitive. To ask or request something of (a person) persistently or pressingly; = importune v. 1. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > request > request or ask for [verb (transitive)] > urge or importune depressc1400 nurnc1400 pressc1440 labourc1450 instancea1513 instanta1513 importune1530 to lie at, upon1535 apply1559 urge1568 importunate1574 ply1581 to put on ——?a1600 flagitate1623 besiege1712 earwig1804 bone1856 tout1920 S.O.S.a1936 opportune1941 1574 E. Hellowes tr. A. de Guevara Familiar Epist. 258 You doe me great griefe to importunate me [Sp. importunarme] so often to declare that which you vnderstand not. 1600 L. Lewkenor tr. A. de Torquemada Spanish Mandeuile f. 85^v Telling him that she was Lucrecia..and importunating him with weeping and pittifull wordes. 1653 Cloria & Narcissus 117 Orestes..began freshly to importunate his brother to the accomplishment of her request. 1740 H. Adams Let. 1 Jan. in Coll. Hist. & Misc. 2 (1823) 281 I've been Prayerfully Importunating Our Lord Emmanuel Jesus the Prince Of the Kings of The Earth. 1851 G. A. Scherpf Appeal to Public ii. 35 He in that time frequently saw Dr. Henschel, whom he much importunated for loans. 1898 Newcastle Weekly Courant 17 Dec. 1/2 (advt.) Ladies are invited to inspect our novelties, and are not importunated to purchase. 1911 Manitoba Free Press 24 Apr. 24/4 He importunated them to be men and women in the true sense of the word. 1988 S. B. Shrotri tr. H. Oldenberg Relig. Veda (1993) 346 Numerous priests, in their bustling loquacious fashion, are busy importunating the gods and humouring them. 2. transitive. To ask for or obtain by persistent solicitation or entreaty. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain or acquire in a certain way > by asking, entreaty, or importunity getc1330 emprent?c1400 impetrea1450 impetrate1533 importunate1605 to worm (a person) out of1617 exorate1623 wheedle1670 stout1812 1605 E. Sandys Relation State of Relig. sig. M2^v Some..in other places are said to have importunated & obtained some out chappell to have their Masse in. 1702 C. Brockwell tr. S. von Pufendorf Compl. Hist. Sweden 17 When Roller's Subjects Revolted against him, he importunated the Aid of the Swedes and Danes. 1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 July 2/3 The degree of departure which outside bodies had been able to importunate from a somewhat pliant Senate. 1910 Christian Workers Mag. Oct. 85/1 Might we not have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives..if we importunated it? This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.1477v.1574
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