importunity
(ɪmpɔːˈtjuːnɪtɪ)
[a. F. importunité (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. importūnitās, f. importūnus: see importune a. and -ity.]
The quality or condition of being importune.
† 1. The condition of being unseasonable or inopportune; unseasonableness; an unsuitable time. Obs.
| 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. iv. xv. 274 The Importunytee of myn ignoraunce in reformyng of dyuerse argumentes. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. xxxii. 6 Poure not forth wyszdome out of tyme, at an importunyte. 1579 J. Stubbes Gaping Gulf E vj, To snatch the crowne from hir heade by oportunity or importunity, which so euer come first. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. (Arb.) 274 Euery thing hath his season which is called Oportunitie, and the vnfitnesse or vndecency of the time is called Importunitie. |
† 2. Burdensomeness, trouble. Obs.
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 81 Late it be set in money to the remedie and socoure of this gret importunyte and necessite. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 10 The Wagoners..are forc'd to make use of fire against the importunity of those Insects [Gnats]. 1739 J. Huxham Ess. Fevers (1750) 213 Very often the Importunity and violence of the Cough was to be appeased by Elixir Asthmaticum. |
† 3. Pertinacity or constancy of action. Obs.
| 1663 J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 215 Many of them..continue for so many hours (if the importunity of Historians in this matter be of any consideration). |
4. Troublesome pertinacity in solicitation.
| c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. xii. (1885) 136 Through ymportunite off thair suyttes. 1526 Tindale Luke xi. 8 Because of hys importunite he woll ryse and geve hym as many as he nedeth. 1568 Tilney Disc. Mariage C vj, Of marvellous vertue is, to bee sufferable in the ymportunities of hys wyfe, sometimes..and in trifling consenting unto her. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 19 With much importunitie and promise of reward..I got them to set me ashore. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. (1779) III. lxxxi. 179 Tormenting me with his nauseous importunities. 1784 Cowper Task iv. 414 Knaves..liberal of their aid To clam'rous importunity in rags. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 462 Fearing that our importunity might be troublesome. |