importunity
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being importunate; persistence in solicitation.
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importunities, importunate solicitations or demands.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of importunity
1425–75; late Middle English importunite < Latin importūnitās. See importune, -ity
Explanation
Importunity is when you beg someone to do something. "Please, please take me to the mall!" is probably something said by many teens with importunity. The adjective importunate describes a plea that is so persistent or demanding that it becomes annoying. You can use the noun importunity to describe an example of this kind of pleading. You might ask for a bite of your friend's dessert with importunity, moaning about how hungry you are and how deliciously fudgy her chocolate cake looks. The root of importunity is the Latin importunitatem, which means "unsuitableness or incivility," and comes from importunus, "unfit or troublesome."
Vocabulary lists containing importunity
"The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
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"Of Plymouth Plantation," Vocabulary from the historical account
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"The Story of an Hour"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Such as these Importunity would prevail upon to disclose their knowledge, if fitting Persons were found to Discourse and ask them Questions, and to Compile the Answers into a History.
You will forgive this my Importunity, when you shall know the Cause of my coming to you.
From Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. by Erasmus, Desiderius
Importunity must not become a blind and uninspired clamouring for the thing we desire.
From The Threshold Grace by Ainsworth, Percy C.
Importunity might be appeased, or imposture effected by fallacious representations.
From Wieland: or, the Transformation, an American Tale by Brown, Charles Brockden
Importunity in prayer is needed as well as perseverance and patience.
From Adventures in the Land of Canaan by Berry, Robert Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
