Importune: meaning, definitions and examples
๐จ
importune
[ ษชmหpษหtสuหn ]
request persistently
To importune means to ask someone persistently and urgently for something. This term is often used in contexts where someone is making repeated and insistent requests, often leading to feelings of annoyance or pressure.
Synonyms
beg, implore, insist, pester, urge
Examples of usage
- She importuned her parents for a new car.
- The vendor importuned potential customers to buy his goods.
- He was importuned by friends to join them on their trip.
solicit for sexual favors
In a more negative context, to importune can refer to soliciting someone for sexual favors in a persistent manner, often in a way considered inappropriate or unwanted.
Synonyms
entreat, negotiate, prostitute, solicit
Examples of usage
- The man was accused of importuning women in the park.
- She felt uncomfortable after being importuned by strangers online.
- Local authorities have responded to a rise in cases of importuning.
Translations
Translations of the word "importune" in other languages:
๐ต๐น importunar
๐ฎ๐ณ เคตเคฟเคจเคคเฅ เคเคฐเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช belรคstigen
๐ฎ๐ฉ mengganggu
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟะพัััะฑัะฒะฐัะธ
๐ต๐ฑ niepokoiฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ่ฟทๆใใใใ
๐ซ๐ท importuner
๐ช๐ธ importunar
๐น๐ท rahatsฤฑz etmek
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ฐฉํดํ๋ค
๐ธ๐ฆ ููุฒุนูุฌ
๐จ๐ฟ obtฤลพovat
๐ธ๐ฐ obลฅaลพovaลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ๆๆฐ
๐ธ๐ฎ motiti
๐ฎ๐ธ trufla
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฑาฑะทะฐาัะปัา ะถะฐัะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แจแแฌแฃแฎแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ narahat etmษk
๐ฒ๐ฝ importunar
Word origin
The term 'importune' has its roots in the Latin word 'importunus', which means 'unfit' or 'unwelcome'. The prefix 'in-' typically denotes negation, while 'portare' means 'to carry'. Thus, the concept of importuneness originally revolved around the idea of carrying a burden that is unwelcome. The word made its way into Middle English through Old French as 'importuner', referring to the act of troubling or annoying someone through persistent requests. Over time, the meaning evolved to encompass both the act of asking insistently as well as the more negative connotation of solicitation, especially in regards to sexual favors. The evolution indicates societal changes in how persistent requests are perceived, and the nuances that come with them.