Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ



Dec 19, 2013
This week's theme
Verbs

This week's words
descant
hebetate
blandish
importune
colligate

Have your say
in our discussion forum
Wordsmith Talk
Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

importune

PRONUNCIATION:
(im-pawr-TOON, im-pawr-TYOON, im-PAWR-chuhn)

MEANING:
verb tr.: To ask someone, repeatedly or annoyingly, to do something.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin importunus, from in- (not) + portus (port, refuge). Ultimately from the Indo-European root per- (to lead, pass over), which also gave us support, comport, petroleum, sport, passport, petrify, colporteur (a peddler of religious books), Swedish fartlek (a training technique), Norwegian fjord (bay), and Sanskrit parvat (mountain). Earliest documented use: 1530.

USAGE:
"José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain's prime minister, has cast dignity aside and importuned all and sundry with a request to be invited to a conference."
After the Fiesta; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 6, 2008.

See more usage examples of importune in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Love truth, but pardon error. -Voltaire, philosopher and writer (1694-1778)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith