Importunate

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ɪmˈpɔːtjuːnÉ™t/
• US IPA: /ɪmˈpɔɹtjuːnÉ™t/

From Latin importune + -ate

Full definition of importunate

Adjective

1. Of a demand: persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so.
2. Of a person: given to importunate demands, greedily or thoughtlessly demanding.

Related terms

• importune

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ɪmˈpɔːtjuːneɪt/
• US IPA: /ɪmˈpɔɹtjuːneɪt/

From French importuner ("to bother, disturb")

Verb

1. (rare) To importune, or to obtain by importunity.
• 1581 June 23, Thomas Churchyard, letter to Sir Christopher Hatton, in Sir Harris Nicolas (editor), Memoirs of the Life and Times of Sir Christopher Hatton, K.G., Richard Bentley (publisher, 1847), page 173:All which notwithstanding, I obtained licence at length to make my supplication to the noble Parliament house; but I could find no messengers till Sir John Seton went, whom I importunated daily to obtain me favor for my return home again.
• 1847 December 18, N. Roussel, “Spiritual Destitution of Paris.—Appeal to British Christians”, in Evangelical Christendom: Its State and Prospects, Volume II (1848), Partridge and Oakey, page 43:Is my work ended? The fear of importunating my friends answers, “Yes.”
• 1910 July, David Leslie Brown, “The Need of To-day”, in Sunset (magazine), Volume 25, Southern Pacific Company, reverse of frontispiece:It is the concrete that impresses, that importunates until it influences—in writing as in everything else.

Anagrams

• permutation