importune
from
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.
[1913 Webster]
from
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. To import; to signify. [Obs.] "It importunes death."
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
from
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
[email protected]