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importunate

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importunate¹

  • /ɪmˈpɔːtjʊnət/ UK
  • /ɪmˈpɔɹt͡ʃənət/ US

Where it comes from

First attested in 1477, in Middle english; from Latin importūnus + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), modelled on Middle French importuné. By surface analysis, importune + -ate (compare inopportune). The noun was substantivized from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

adjective more importunate · most importunate

  1. of a demand Persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so. Nick was on the point of declaring again that he was a humbug, so vivid was his inner sense of what he thought of his factitious public utterances, which had the cursed property of creating dreadful responsibilities and importunate credulities for him.
  2. of a person Given to importunate demands, greedily or thoughtlessly demanding. [...] if you reprimand or punish them, be assured every one will consider you importunate as well as ridiculous.

noun importunates

  1. An importuner. This will put an Answer into the Kings mouth, against all importunates.

importunate²

  • /ɪmˈpɔːtjuːneɪt/ UK
  • /ɪmˈpɔɹtjuːneɪt/ US

Where it comes from

First attested in 1574; adapted borrowing of French importuner (“to bother, disturb”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

verb importunates · importunating · importunated

  1. rare To importune, or to obtain by importunity. All which notwithstanding, I obtained licence at length to make my supplication to the noble Parliament house; but I could find no messengers till Sir John Seton went, whom I importunated daily to obtain me favor for my return home again.

Translations

Every language

adj of a demand, persistent or pressing

Русскийнастойчивый nastojčivyj

verb to obtain by importunity

Portuguêsimportunar

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MLA

"importunate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/importunate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

importunate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/importunate

Chicago

"importunate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/importunate.

BibTeX
@misc{importunate_2026,
  title = {importunate},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/importunate},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}