See importune in All languages combined, or Wiktionary
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
"word": "importunable"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
"word": "reimportune"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
"word": "unimportuned"
}
],
"etymology_number": 1,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "frm",
"3": "importuner"
},
"expansion": "Middle French importuner",
"name": "bor"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-med",
"3": "importūnor",
"4": "",
"5": "to make oneself troublesome"
},
"expansion": "Medieval Latin importūnor (“to make oneself troublesome”)",
"name": "bor"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "importūnus",
"4": "",
"5": "unfit, troublesome"
},
"expansion": "Latin importūnus (“unfit, troublesome”)",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle French importuner and its etymon Medieval Latin importūnor (“to make oneself troublesome”), from Latin importūnus (“unfit, troublesome”), originally \"having no harbor\".",
"forms": [
{
"form": "importunes",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "importuning",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "importuned",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "importuned",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "importune (third-person singular simple present importunes, present participle importuning, simple past and past participle importuned)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"related": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
"word": "importunity"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
49,
58
]
],
"ref": "1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter XVII, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:",
"text": "To deliberate, be it but in slight matters, doth importune me.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
21,
30
]
],
"ref": "1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XIV, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 155:",
"text": "But I will no longer importune my young cousin.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To bother, irritate, trouble."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-verb-qItA3mwZ",
"links": [
[
"bother",
"bother#Verb"
],
[
"irritate",
"irritate"
],
[
"trouble",
"trouble#Verb"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To bother, irritate, trouble."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
11,
20
]
],
"ref": "c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 210, column 2, lines 50–51:",
"text": "Gentlemen, importune me no farther, / For hovv I firmly am reſolu'd you knovv: / That is, not to beſtovv my yongeſt daughter, / Before I haue a husband for the elder: […]",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
23,
33
]
],
"ref": "1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 7, column 1:",
"text": "You were kneel'd to, & importun'd otherwiſe / By all of vs; […]",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
127,
137
]
],
"ref": "1711 December 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Jonathan Swift], The Conduct of the Allies, and of the Late Ministry, in Beginning and Carrying on the Present War, 4th edition, London: […] John Morphew […], published 1711, →OCLC, page 57:",
"text": "[W]e have been obliged to hire Troops from ſeveral Princes of the Empire, whoſe Ministers and Reſidents here, have perpetually importuned the Court with unreaſonable Demands, under which our late Miniſters thought fit to be Paſſive.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To harass with persistent requests."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-verb-veLyoUoz",
"links": [
[
"harass",
"harass"
],
[
"persistent",
"persistent"
],
[
"requests",
"request#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To harass with persistent requests."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "dosaždam",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "досаждам"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "natrapvam se",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "натрапвам се"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"note": "for information",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "udella"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"note": "for goods or services",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "anella"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "importunar"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "abafar"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "bedrängen"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "belästigen"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"lang_code": "kk",
"roman": "mazasyn alu",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "мазасын алу"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"lang_code": "kk",
"roman": "jabysu",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "жабысу"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"lang_code": "kk",
"roman": "jarmasu",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "жармасу"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Māori",
"lang_code": "mi",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "patete"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Māori",
"lang_code": "mi",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "unene"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "napraszać się"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "importunar"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "incomodar"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "domogátʹsja",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "домога́ться"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "nadojedátʹ",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "надоеда́ть"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "pristavatʹ",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "приставать"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "importunar"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"lang_code": "sv",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "besvära"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "sıkboğaz etmek"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "üstelemek"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 96 1 3",
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "dadanmak"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "17 22 38 24",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Entries with translation boxes",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "14 23 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "14 23 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "14 23 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Galician translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "14 23 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with German translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "14 23 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Kazakh translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "16 20 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Māori translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "17 23 37 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Polish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "14 23 41 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "16 20 42 22",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Russian translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "17 20 42 21",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "15 23 42 21",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
},
{
"_dis": "15 23 42 21",
"kind": "other",
"name": "Terms with Turkish translations",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-verb-FKF32j-5",
"links": [
[
"approach",
"approach#Verb"
],
[
"offer",
"offer#Verb"
],
[
"services",
"service#Noun"
],
[
"prostitute",
"prostitute#Noun"
],
[
"make",
"make#Verb"
],
[
"improper",
"improper"
],
[
"proposal",
"proposal"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
],
"translations": [
{
"_dis1": "0 4 91 5",
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "predlagam se",
"sense": "to make improper proposals",
"word": "предлагам се"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 4 91 5",
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to make improper proposals",
"word": "ahdistella"
},
{
"_dis1": "0 4 91 5",
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to make improper proposals",
"word": "prostituirse"
}
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
3,
13
]
],
"ref": "1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 16:",
"text": "It importunes death.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To import; to signify."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-verb-3IKHP5pg",
"links": [
[
"import",
"import#Verb"
],
[
"signify",
"signify"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete, transitive) To import; to signify."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-importune.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/",
"tags": [
"US"
]
}
],
"word": "importune"
}
{
"derived": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "importunely"
}
],
"etymology_number": 2,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "importune,inportune"
},
"expansion": "Middle English importune, inportune",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno,frm",
"3": "importun"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-cla",
"3": "importūnus"
},
"expansion": "Classical Latin importūnus",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English importune, inportune, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun and its etymon Classical Latin importūnus.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "more importune",
"tags": [
"comparative"
]
},
{
"form": "most importune",
"tags": [
"superlative"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "importune (comparative more importune, superlative most importune)",
"name": "en-adj"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "adj",
"related": [
{
"_dis1": "0 0 0",
"word": "importunate"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
53,
62
]
],
"ref": "1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:",
"text": "And therewithall he fiercely at him flew, / And with importune outrage him assayld [...].",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Grievous, severe, exacting."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-adj-XfMT0Cqi",
"links": [
[
"Grievous",
"grievous"
],
[
"severe",
"severe"
],
[
"exacting",
"exacting"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Grievous, severe, exacting."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"glosses": [
"Inopportune; unseasonable."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-adj-G5KAA4N6",
"links": [
[
"Inopportune",
"inopportune"
],
[
"unseasonable",
"unseasonable"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Inopportune; unseasonable."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"categories": [],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
10,
19
]
],
"ref": "1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 44:",
"text": "And their importune fates all satisfide.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
46,
55
]
],
"ref": "1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Envy”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:",
"text": "Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Troublesome; vexatious; persistent."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-adj-EKdIfcsA",
"links": [
[
"Troublesome",
"troublesome"
],
[
"vexatious",
"vexatious"
],
[
"persistent",
"persistent"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Troublesome; vexatious; persistent."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-importune.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/",
"tags": [
"US"
]
}
],
"word": "importune"
}
{
"etymology_number": 2,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "importune,inportune"
},
"expansion": "Middle English importune, inportune",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno,frm",
"3": "importun"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-cla",
"3": "importūnus"
},
"expansion": "Classical Latin importūnus",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English importune, inportune, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun and its etymon Classical Latin importūnus.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "importunes",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "importune (plural importunes)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
{
"_dis": "4 4 10 38 1 8 21 14",
"kind": "other",
"name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
"parents": [],
"source": "w+disamb"
}
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
148,
157
]
],
"ref": "1589, [George Puttenham], “Of Decencie in Behauiour Which Also Belongs to the Consideration of the Poet or Maker”, in The Arte of English Poesie. […], London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, pages 247–248:",
"text": "And yet in ſome Courts it is otherwiſe vſed, for in Spaine it is thought very vndecent for a Courtier to craue, ſuppoſing that it is the part of an importune: […]",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
234,
244
]
],
"ref": "a. 1735, Roger North, “The Times Clearing Up, and How”, in Examen: or, An Enquiry into the Credit and Veracity of a Pretended Complete History; […], London: […] Fletcher Gyles […], published 1740, →OCLC, part III, page 644:",
"text": "Which ſhew that importunate People will affirm any Thing, to ſerve Turns, though never fo ſenſeleſs; hoping ſome, that underſtand little, or are very willing, will give credit upon their Authority: And, if Juſtice muſt ſtay till ſuch Importunes are ſatisfied, there’s a ne plus ultra of all Law.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
190,
200
]
],
"ref": "1813 August 12, Lady Hester Stanhope, The Nun of Lebanon: The Love Affair of Lady Hester Stanhope and Michael Bruce: Their Newly Discovered Letters, London: Collins […], published 1951, →OCLC, page 282:",
"text": "The Priests of the Holy Land sent me a letter he had written them about me thanking them for their civility to me, & desiring they wd. serve me in every thing &c, therefore these confounded importunes laid themselves at my feet, but his letter was admirable, nobody ever saw such a thing, his coats of Arms printed upon a paper as large as a gazette extraordinary and full as large as my hand open!!!",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Synonym of importuner."
],
"id": "en-importune-en-noun-PAUsk95q",
"links": [
[
"importuner",
"importuner#English"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Synonym of importuner."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"synonym",
"synonym-of"
],
"word": "importuner"
}
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-importune.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/",
"tags": [
"US"
]
}
],
"word": "importune"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms borrowed from Medieval Latin",
"English terms borrowed from Middle French",
"English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
"English terms derived from Classical Latin",
"English terms derived from Latin",
"English terms derived from Medieval Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Middle French",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"English verbs",
"Entries with translation boxes",
"Pages with 6 entries",
"Pages with entries",
"Terms with Bulgarian translations",
"Terms with Finnish translations",
"Terms with Galician translations",
"Terms with German translations",
"Terms with Kazakh translations",
"Terms with Māori translations",
"Terms with Polish translations",
"Terms with Portuguese translations",
"Terms with Russian translations",
"Terms with Spanish translations",
"Terms with Swedish translations",
"Terms with Turkish translations"
],
"derived": [
{
"word": "importunable"
},
{
"word": "reimportune"
},
{
"word": "unimportuned"
}
],
"etymology_number": 1,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "frm",
"3": "importuner"
},
"expansion": "Middle French importuner",
"name": "bor"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-med",
"3": "importūnor",
"4": "",
"5": "to make oneself troublesome"
},
"expansion": "Medieval Latin importūnor (“to make oneself troublesome”)",
"name": "bor"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "importūnus",
"4": "",
"5": "unfit, troublesome"
},
"expansion": "Latin importūnus (“unfit, troublesome”)",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle French importuner and its etymon Medieval Latin importūnor (“to make oneself troublesome”), from Latin importūnus (“unfit, troublesome”), originally \"having no harbor\".",
"forms": [
{
"form": "importunes",
"tags": [
"present",
"singular",
"third-person"
]
},
{
"form": "importuning",
"tags": [
"participle",
"present"
]
},
{
"form": "importuned",
"tags": [
"participle",
"past"
]
},
{
"form": "importuned",
"tags": [
"past"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "importune (third-person singular simple present importunes, present participle importuning, simple past and past participle importuned)",
"name": "en-verb"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "verb",
"related": [
{
"word": "importunity"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
49,
58
]
],
"ref": "1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter XVII, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:",
"text": "To deliberate, be it but in slight matters, doth importune me.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
21,
30
]
],
"ref": "1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XIV, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 155:",
"text": "But I will no longer importune my young cousin.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To bother, irritate, trouble."
],
"links": [
[
"bother",
"bother#Verb"
],
[
"irritate",
"irritate"
],
[
"trouble",
"trouble#Verb"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To bother, irritate, trouble."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with quotations",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
11,
20
]
],
"ref": "c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 210, column 2, lines 50–51:",
"text": "Gentlemen, importune me no farther, / For hovv I firmly am reſolu'd you knovv: / That is, not to beſtovv my yongeſt daughter, / Before I haue a husband for the elder: […]",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
23,
33
]
],
"ref": "1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 7, column 1:",
"text": "You were kneel'd to, & importun'd otherwiſe / By all of vs; […]",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
127,
137
]
],
"ref": "1711 December 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Jonathan Swift], The Conduct of the Allies, and of the Late Ministry, in Beginning and Carrying on the Present War, 4th edition, London: […] John Morphew […], published 1711, →OCLC, page 57:",
"text": "[W]e have been obliged to hire Troops from ſeveral Princes of the Empire, whoſe Ministers and Reſidents here, have perpetually importuned the Court with unreaſonable Demands, under which our late Miniſters thought fit to be Paſſive.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To harass with persistent requests."
],
"links": [
[
"harass",
"harass"
],
[
"persistent",
"persistent"
],
[
"requests",
"request#Noun"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To harass with persistent requests."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English transitive verbs"
],
"glosses": [
"To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals."
],
"links": [
[
"approach",
"approach#Verb"
],
[
"offer",
"offer#Verb"
],
[
"services",
"service#Noun"
],
[
"prostitute",
"prostitute#Noun"
],
[
"make",
"make#Verb"
],
[
"improper",
"improper"
],
[
"proposal",
"proposal"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(transitive) To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals."
],
"tags": [
"transitive"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations",
"English transitive verbs"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
3,
13
]
],
"ref": "1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 16:",
"text": "It importunes death.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"To import; to signify."
],
"links": [
[
"import",
"import#Verb"
],
[
"signify",
"signify"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete, transitive) To import; to signify."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete",
"transitive"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-importune.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/",
"tags": [
"US"
]
}
],
"translations": [
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "dosaždam",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "досаждам"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "natrapvam se",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "натрапвам се"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"note": "for information",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "udella"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"note": "for goods or services",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "anella"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "importunar"
},
{
"code": "gl",
"lang": "Galician",
"lang_code": "gl",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "abafar"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "bedrängen"
},
{
"code": "de",
"lang": "German",
"lang_code": "de",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "belästigen"
},
{
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"lang_code": "kk",
"roman": "mazasyn alu",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "мазасын алу"
},
{
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"lang_code": "kk",
"roman": "jabysu",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "жабысу"
},
{
"code": "kk",
"lang": "Kazakh",
"lang_code": "kk",
"roman": "jarmasu",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "жармасу"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Māori",
"lang_code": "mi",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "patete"
},
{
"code": "mi",
"lang": "Māori",
"lang_code": "mi",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "unene"
},
{
"code": "pl",
"lang": "Polish",
"lang_code": "pl",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"tags": [
"imperfective"
],
"word": "napraszać się"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "importunar"
},
{
"code": "pt",
"lang": "Portuguese",
"lang_code": "pt",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "incomodar"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "domogátʹsja",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "домога́ться"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "nadojedátʹ",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "надоеда́ть"
},
{
"code": "ru",
"lang": "Russian",
"lang_code": "ru",
"roman": "pristavatʹ",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "приставать"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "importunar"
},
{
"code": "sv",
"lang": "Swedish",
"lang_code": "sv",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "besvära"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "sıkboğaz etmek"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "üstelemek"
},
{
"code": "tr",
"lang": "Turkish",
"lang_code": "tr",
"sense": "to harass with persistent requests",
"word": "dadanmak"
},
{
"code": "bg",
"lang": "Bulgarian",
"lang_code": "bg",
"roman": "predlagam se",
"sense": "to make improper proposals",
"word": "предлагам се"
},
{
"code": "fi",
"lang": "Finnish",
"lang_code": "fi",
"sense": "to make improper proposals",
"word": "ahdistella"
},
{
"code": "es",
"lang": "Spanish",
"lang_code": "es",
"sense": "to make improper proposals",
"word": "prostituirse"
}
],
"word": "importune"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
"English terms derived from Classical Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Middle French",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"Pages with 6 entries",
"Pages with entries"
],
"derived": [
{
"word": "importunely"
}
],
"etymology_number": 2,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "importune,inportune"
},
"expansion": "Middle English importune, inportune",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno,frm",
"3": "importun"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-cla",
"3": "importūnus"
},
"expansion": "Classical Latin importūnus",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English importune, inportune, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun and its etymon Classical Latin importūnus.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "more importune",
"tags": [
"comparative"
]
},
{
"form": "most importune",
"tags": [
"superlative"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "importune (comparative more importune, superlative most importune)",
"name": "en-adj"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "adj",
"related": [
{
"word": "importunate"
}
],
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
53,
62
]
],
"ref": "1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:",
"text": "And therewithall he fiercely at him flew, / And with importune outrage him assayld [...].",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Grievous, severe, exacting."
],
"links": [
[
"Grievous",
"grievous"
],
[
"severe",
"severe"
],
[
"exacting",
"exacting"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Grievous, severe, exacting."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses"
],
"glosses": [
"Inopportune; unseasonable."
],
"links": [
[
"Inopportune",
"inopportune"
],
[
"unseasonable",
"unseasonable"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Inopportune; unseasonable."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
},
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
10,
19
]
],
"ref": "1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 44:",
"text": "And their importune fates all satisfide.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
46,
55
]
],
"ref": "1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Envy”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:",
"text": "Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual.",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Troublesome; vexatious; persistent."
],
"links": [
[
"Troublesome",
"troublesome"
],
[
"vexatious",
"vexatious"
],
[
"persistent",
"persistent"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Troublesome; vexatious; persistent."
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-importune.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/",
"tags": [
"US"
]
}
],
"word": "importune"
}
{
"categories": [
"English adjectives",
"English countable nouns",
"English entries with incorrect language header",
"English lemmas",
"English nouns",
"English terms derived from Anglo-Norman",
"English terms derived from Classical Latin",
"English terms derived from Middle English",
"English terms derived from Middle French",
"English terms inherited from Middle English",
"Pages with 6 entries",
"Pages with entries"
],
"etymology_number": 2,
"etymology_templates": [
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "importune,inportune"
},
"expansion": "Middle English importune, inportune",
"name": "inh"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "xno,frm",
"3": "importun"
},
"expansion": "Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun",
"name": "der"
},
{
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-cla",
"3": "importūnus"
},
"expansion": "Classical Latin importūnus",
"name": "der"
}
],
"etymology_text": "From Middle English importune, inportune, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French importun and its etymon Classical Latin importūnus.",
"forms": [
{
"form": "importunes",
"tags": [
"plural"
]
}
],
"head_templates": [
{
"args": {},
"expansion": "importune (plural importunes)",
"name": "en-noun"
}
],
"lang": "English",
"lang_code": "en",
"pos": "noun",
"senses": [
{
"categories": [
"English terms with obsolete senses",
"English terms with quotations"
],
"examples": [
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
148,
157
]
],
"ref": "1589, [George Puttenham], “Of Decencie in Behauiour Which Also Belongs to the Consideration of the Poet or Maker”, in The Arte of English Poesie. […], London: […] Richard Field, […], →OCLC, pages 247–248:",
"text": "And yet in ſome Courts it is otherwiſe vſed, for in Spaine it is thought very vndecent for a Courtier to craue, ſuppoſing that it is the part of an importune: […]",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
234,
244
]
],
"ref": "a. 1735, Roger North, “The Times Clearing Up, and How”, in Examen: or, An Enquiry into the Credit and Veracity of a Pretended Complete History; […], London: […] Fletcher Gyles […], published 1740, →OCLC, part III, page 644:",
"text": "Which ſhew that importunate People will affirm any Thing, to ſerve Turns, though never fo ſenſeleſs; hoping ſome, that underſtand little, or are very willing, will give credit upon their Authority: And, if Juſtice muſt ſtay till ſuch Importunes are ſatisfied, there’s a ne plus ultra of all Law.",
"type": "quotation"
},
{
"bold_text_offsets": [
[
190,
200
]
],
"ref": "1813 August 12, Lady Hester Stanhope, The Nun of Lebanon: The Love Affair of Lady Hester Stanhope and Michael Bruce: Their Newly Discovered Letters, London: Collins […], published 1951, →OCLC, page 282:",
"text": "The Priests of the Holy Land sent me a letter he had written them about me thanking them for their civility to me, & desiring they wd. serve me in every thing &c, therefore these confounded importunes laid themselves at my feet, but his letter was admirable, nobody ever saw such a thing, his coats of Arms printed upon a paper as large as a gazette extraordinary and full as large as my hand open!!!",
"type": "quotation"
}
],
"glosses": [
"Synonym of importuner."
],
"links": [
[
"importuner",
"importuner#English"
]
],
"raw_glosses": [
"(obsolete) Synonym of importuner."
],
"synonyms": [
{
"tags": [
"synonym",
"synonym-of"
],
"word": "importuner"
}
],
"tags": [
"obsolete"
]
}
],
"sounds": [
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmˈpɔːtjuːn/",
"tags": [
"UK"
]
},
{
"audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-importune.wav",
"mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.mp3",
"ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9a/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-importune.wav.ogg"
},
{
"ipa": "/ɪmpɔɹˈtuːn/",
"tags": [
"US"
]
}
],
"word": "importune"
}
Download raw JSONL data for importune meaning in English (17.7kB)
This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-02-11 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-02-01 using wiktextract (f492ef9 and 59dc20b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.
If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.