| 释义 |
importunityn.  Brit.  /ˌɪmpəˈtjuːnᵻti/, /ˌɪmpɔːˈtjuːnᵻti/, /ˌɪmpəˈtʃuːnᵻti/, /ˌɪmpɔːˈtʃuːnᵻti/, U.S. /ˌɪmpərˈt(j)unᵻdi/, /ˌɪmpɔrˈt(j)unᵻdi/Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French importunité; Latin importūnitāt-, importūnitās. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French importunité (French importunité ) inappropriateness (a1325 or earlier in Anglo-Norman; 1572 in continental French), persistent request or demand (1326), something which is troublesome or difficult (1372), trouble, difficulty (a1467), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin importūnitāt-, importūnitās unfavourableness, persistent lack of consideration, unreasonableness, relentlessness, oppressiveness < importūnus importune adj. + -tās (see -ty suffix1; compare -ity suffix).Compare Catalan importunitat (14th cent.), Portuguese importunidade (15th cent.), Italian importunità (a1342), all earliest in sense 2, and also Spanish importunidad (1369 as †importunidat , earliest in sense 1a). With the α. forms compare in- prefix4. The form impertunite at β. forms may result from association with impertinent adj. and related words. 1. the mind > language > speech > request > [noun] > earnest request or entreaty > importunity or urgency c1425 (1923) 25 (MED) He was mevyd nat with the ynstyncte or ynward sterynge of charite, but, ouercummyn with inportunyte of asker, he drewe owte a peis of vilest and castyd yt yn to his vessell. a1475 J. Fortescue (Laud) (1885) 136 Through ymportunite off thair suyttes. 1526 Luke xi. f. xciiij Because of hys importunite he woll ryse and geve him as many as he nedeth. 1566 W. Painter tr. O. Landi iii. f. 69 The gret importunitie of beggers, that neuer suffred him in quiet. 1615 G. Sandys 19 With much importunitie and promise of reward..I got them to set me ashore. 1687 E. Clarke 21 Jan. in J. Locke & E. Clarke (1927) 181 I received the enclosed lease and letter from your cousin Stratton with great importunity to convey it forthwith to you. 1724 R. Samber tr. B. Castiglione ii. 31 The Person who requested it with such Importunity, was very eager of obtaining it. 1785 W. Cowper iv. 414 Knaves..liberal of their aid To clam'rous importunity in rags. 1819 ii. 35 Sturdy beggars..added insolence and threats to their importunity. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato I. 433 Fearing that our importunity might be troublesome. 1927 Feb. 204/2 Persistence, importunity, following and dogging become unjustifiable annoyance and obstruction. 2001 P. D. James (2002) 234 He had, indeed, something of the irritating importunity of a wedding photographer. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1537) f. 32v It is a ioyfull thynge to reioyce in the chyldhode of chyldren, but it is a ryght cruel thing to suffre the importunities of theyr mothers. 1568 E. Tilney (new ed.) sig. Cvj Of marvellous vertue is, to bee sufferable in the ymportunities of hys wyfe, sometimes..and in trifling consenting unto her. 1639 J. Saltmarsh 10 To procure some token for remembrance..at every appearing renewes an importunity, and sheds a fresh sollicit upon them. 1697 S. Pratt Ded. sig. A4 The warmth of your importunities..has made me to expose my self at this time to Censure. 1751 Mem. Lady of Quality in T. Smollett III. lxxxviii. 156 Tormenting me with his nauseous importunities. a1774 A. Tucker (1777) II. iv. xxxvi. 304 I have heard people value themselves upon their inability to resist an importunity they know to be hurtful. 1854 31 Oct. 8/5 The demands and importunities of the..gang that besieged them the very instant they assumed office. 1908 Apr. 284/2 It is possible to..sit there for hours without being disturbed by the importunities of relic venders. 2002 8 Mar. 10/1 A way to protect young women from the importunities of young men. the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > [noun] c1451 J. Capgrave (1910) 90 He alegged þe importunyte of his age, þe onworthþinesse of him-self to swech dignyte, [etc.]. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan iv. xv. sig. Siv The Importunytee of myn ignoraunce in reformyng of dyuerse argumentes. 1535 Ecclus. xxxii. 6 Poure not forth wyszdome out of tyme, at an importunyte. 1579 J. Stubbs sig. Evj To snatch the crowne from hir heade by oportunity or importunity, which so euer come first. 1589 G. Puttenham iii. xxiii. 223 Euery thing hath his season which is called Oportunitie, and the vnfitnesse or vndecency of the time is called Importunitie. 1692 R. L'Estrange cccxxvii. 285 To have his Thoughts disorder'd..by the Importunity of a Tedious..Visit. the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [noun] > difficulty, trouble, or bother the mind > emotion > suffering > cause of mental pain or suffering > [noun] > quality c1475 (?c1451) (Royal) (1860) 81 Late it be set in money to the remedie and socoure of this gret importunyte and necessite. c1530 W. Walter sig. C.iij Your wordes are frustrate To alledge in maryage suche importunyte. 1589 G. Puttenham (new ed.) iii. xxv. 251 Now & then to haue a iourney or sicknesse in his sleeue, thereby to shake of other importunities of greater consequence. 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius i. 10 The Wagoners..are forc'd to make use of fire against the importunity of those Insects [sc. Gnats]. 1739 J. Huxham (1750) 213 Very often the Importunity and violence of the Cough was to be appeased by Elixir Asthmaticum. the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > [noun] 1533 tr. Erasmus vii. sig. E.viii The importunytye [L. improbitas] of the same cryenge and stryuyng agaynst the spiryte. 1568 E. Hake tr. Thomas à Kempis (new ed.) iii. xii. f. 71v It is sometime also expedient to brydle good affects and desires, least..thou passe measure with the importunitie of minde [L. per importunitatem mentis]. 1663 J. Spencer ii. 21 Much forc't upon them by the importunity of bold men. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ I. ix. 157 Such vague memories hang about the mind like cobwebs, with tickling importunity. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  n.c1425 |