importunatenessn.
/ɪmˈpɔːtjᵿnətnəs/, /ɪmˈpɔːtʃᵿnətnəs/, /ɪmˈpɔːtʃn̩ətnəs/, U.S. /ᵻmˈpɔrtʃ(ə)nətnəs/ The quality of being importunate; = importunity n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > earnest request or entreaty > importunity or urgency
instancec1340
importunityc1425
instancy1515
importunateness?1526
importunacy1548
importancea1555
importancy1576
opportunitya1586
urgencec1592
urgency1611
clamorousnessa1617
pressingness1661
precariousness1666
supplicancy1728
beseechingness1863
imploringness1863
pleadingness1866
demandingness1930
?1526 G. Hervet tr. Erasmus De Immensa Dei Misericordia sig. M.ivv He knocketh yt with deuout importunatnes in a maner compelleth ye mercy of god, never cessynge to exercise warkes of mercy on his neyghbour.
1532 L. Cox Art or Crafte Rhetoryke sig. D.iii Our..lybertie is ouercome..by the importunatnes of our wyues.
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie 3rd Serm. sig. Hiiiv He wil beare your importunatenes, he wyll not be angrye at your cryinge & callynge.
1635 Ld. Carew in Lismore Papers (1888) 2nd Ser. III. 217 I am herevnto induced by the importunateness of my Masters.
1683 Dutch Rogue 170 By his continual Importunateness he had almost harassed her out of her life.
1812 T. De Quincey Let. 21 June in ‘H. A. Page’ T. De Quincey: Life & Writings (1877) I. viii. 169 Her sweet importunateness of action and voice.
1856 New Hampsh. Jrnl. Med. 6 14 This honor..is thrust upon us with an importunateness, by our poor patient who seems determined to reward us with the glory of his cure.
1919 F. Wray tr. M. Berger Life at Stake ii. vii. vi. 304 Gandolphe's gaze was dumbly beseeching him. Jean guessed what feelings might be hiding behind that importunateness.
2000 F. Church Lifecraft ii. 26 For an infant, naked selfishness and raw importunateness are tantamount to survival.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?1526