▪ I. importunate, a. (n.)
(ɪmˈpɔːtjuːnət)
[f. L. importūn-us + -ate2. The use of the suffix is peculiar; perh. after obstinate, fortunate, temperate, or other adjs. expressing personal qualities.]
† 1. Inopportune, unseasonable, untimely; = importune a. 1. Obs.
| 1529 [implied in importunately 1]. 1552 Huloet, Importunate, or out of season, importunus. 1656–9 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age (ed. 2) 101 The inexorable executor of this importunate and unseasonable Command, was first chased away with stone. |
† 2. Burdensome; grievous, grave. Obs.
| c 1540 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden) I. 102 An importunate number of the barbarus people beeganne to moleste the Romaine imperie. 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI 152 b, When money was scante and importunate charges were dayly imminent. Ibid., Hen. VII 3 b, Beyng not hable to suffre the importunate heate, they cast away the shetes and all the clothes. 1577 Frampton Joyful News i. (1596) 13 This water is also good for..other dangerous and importunat diseases. 1663 Cowley Verses & Ess., Solitude, When they are in love with a Mistress, all other persons are importunate and burdensome to them. 1824 Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Blakesmoor in H―shire, The pride of ancestry may be had on cheaper terms than to be obliged to an importunate race of ancestors. |
† b. Troublesome; persistently troublesome. Obs.
| 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 722 This New World..hath to these importunate chapmen sold her freedome. 1660 H. More Myst. Godl. iii. ii. 60 [The Sun] cannot..free his own face of those importunate spots that ever and anon lie upon it like filth. 1691 Ray Creation ii. (1692) 100, Lice, Fleas, and other noisom and importunate Insects. |
3. Pressing, urgent; busy. Obs. or arch.
| 1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII, c. 2 §2 If..the sayde collectours..can not be thervnto admitted, by reason of importunate busines. a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. xiv. §136 The Earl remain'd in London whilst the enquiry was warm and importunate. 1877 Bryant Main-Dream i, This maze of dusty streets, Forever shaken by the importunate jar Of commerce. |
4. Persistent or pressing in solicitation; pertinacious.
| 1477 [implied in importunately 4]. 1529 Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.) 30 They..will..make importunate sute, and laboure to be in seruice with youre Magestye. a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. x. (1546) F vj b, I am importune on you, that ye be not importunate on me. I pray you, that you praie not me. 1566 Painter Pal. Pleas. I. 69 Declaring how importunate his mother was to know. 1660 Trial Regic. 44 The King..was importunate to know what they intended to do with Him. 1746 Col. Rec. Pennsylv. V. 53 Some of the Persons who supplied me with them grow Importunate for their money. 1863 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Vict. ii, For the avoidance of importunate creditors. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. i. ii, Now came an importunate knock at the door; breakfast was ready. |
B. as n. An importunate person.
| 1881 Jrnl. Educ. 1 Mar. 49/2 He would have granted the fair importunates the examination without restriction. |
▪ II. importunate, v.
(ɪmˈpɔːtjuːneɪt)
[f. F. importuner: see importune v. and -ate3 7.]
a. trans. To solicit persistently; = importune v. 3.
| a 1598 Rollock Sel. Wks. (Wodrow Soc.) II. 603 The widow who importunated the unrighteous Judge. 1600 F. Walker Sp. Mandeville 85 b, Telling him that she was Lucrecia..and importunating him with weeping and pittifull wordes. 1653 Cloria & Narcissus I. 117 Orestes..began freshly to importunate his brother to the accomplishment of her request. |
b. To obtain by importunity.
| 1891 Pall Mall G. 1 July 2/3 The degree of departure which outside bodies had been able to importunate from a somewhat pliant Senate. |