1.
[syn: importune, insist]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Importune \Im`por*tune"\, v. i.
To require; to demand. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Importune \Im`por*tune"\ ([i^]m`p[o^]r*t[=u]n"), a. [F.
importun, L. importunus; pref. im- not + a derivative from
the root of portus harbor, importunus therefore orig.
meaning, hard of access. See Port harbor, and cf.
Importunate.]
1. Inopportune; unseasonable. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
2. Troublesome; vexatious; persistent; urgent; hence,
vexatious on account of untimely urgency or pertinacious
solicitation. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
And their importune fates all satisfied. --Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
Of all other affections it [envy] is the most
importune and continual. --Bacon.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Importune \Im`por*tune"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Importuned
([i^]m`p[o^]r*t[=u]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Importuning.]
[From Importune, a.: cf. F. importuner.]
1. To request or solicit, with urgency; to press with
frequent, unreasonable, or troublesome application or
pertinacity; hence, to tease; to irritate; to worry.
[1913 Webster]
Their ministers and residents here have perpetually
importuned the court with unreasonable demands.
--Swift.
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2. To import; to signify. [Obs.] "It importunes death."
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
importune
v 1: beg persistently and urgently; "I importune you to help
them" [syn: importune, insist]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
84 Moby Thesaurus words for "importune":
advocate, aggravating, annoying, appeal, apply pressure, approach,
beg, beseech, beset, besiege, blandish, bothering, bothersome, bug,
buttonhole, cajole, call on, call upon, coax, crave, disturbing,
dun, entreat, exasperating, exert pressure, exhort, galling,
harassing, high-pressure, implore, importunate, insist,
insist upon, invoke, irking, irksome, irritating, jawbone, lobby,
make a pass, make advances, make an overture, nag, nag at,
overture, pesky, pester, pestering, pestiferous, pestilent,
pestilential, plague, plaguesome, plaguey, plaguing, plead,
plead with, ply, pray, press, pressure, proposition, provoking,
push, recommend, soft-soap, solicit, supplicate, sweet-talk, tease,
teasing, throw a pass, tiresome, tormenting, troublesome,
troubling, urge, vexatious, vexing, wearisome, wheedle, work on,
worrisome, worrying