Middle English Dictionary Entry
importūne adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | importūne adj. |
| Etymology | L importūnus & OF importun. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Persistent, insistent; overeager; (b) fierce, cruel; grievous, dangerous; (c) difficult, troublesome; (d) ill-mannered; inappropriate.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)425 : I kepte nat to be seen inportune In my pursuyte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1472 : Þe vois of blood doth so ay contune To crye wreche with clamoure importune On hem, in soth, þat it iniustly shede.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.3116 : So inportune he was in his requeste.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4115 : The vncouth noyse and the gret affray That Grekys made with clamour inportune, And newe and newe euere in on contune.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5632 : He nyl be importune Unto no wight, ne onerous, Nor of her goodes coveitous.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.519 : Hir cry on Bochas was verray importune.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)177 : Anothyr cause wych that meuyd me To make thys legende..Was the inportune and besy preyere Of oon whom I loue.
- (1450) RParl.5.179b : And so by his subtill Counseill, importune and unprofitable labour..the revenuez of the Demesnes and Possessions of youre Corone..have be soo amenused and anientised.
- c1500(a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(Cld A.8)156 : For ellis importune suters wil gape vpon suche reuersiouns and oftentymes asken hem or they befall.
- (a1475) Fortescue Dial.UF (Vit E.10)487 : Also it must be undrestonde that thorowe the importune request of the people was graunted hem first a kyng.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)459 : He sende letters into every cuntre annullynge alle the articles grawntede by hym at the importune instaunce of the commune peple.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)31/5 : Neiþir he mai be moved..bi inportune or noysum multitude of askingis.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)114/26 : That man be not importune in worldly besynes.
- c1613(1464) Plumpton Let.13 : Thorowh importune clamor of Chapman..I paid 33 s. 4 d.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6964 : So importune is þe rage and tene Þat inwardely bynt me for þe while.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.689 : What newe furie or importune rage Hath brought myn herte in-to swyche autrage..To loue hir best þat dedly doth me hate!
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.288 : Thus Glad Pouert gan wexen inportune, Off cheer contraire, off look & off language, Ageyn this ladi which callid is Fortune.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.1516 : The citeseyns off inportune rage..hir beute dede assaile.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1996 : This forseid enmye þat is so importune..On of þis houshold he gan to his powere repe.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)24/88 : Ȝe schul praye..tat we may be deliuerid vrom all importune enmyes & all euel þyngis.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.269 : For some men ben..so importune in þeire malice..Þat nede hem maketh fallen into vice.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)32/27 : Aforne þat þey schuln oughte doo, inportune [L importuna] þey byn and fulle hardy, But aftir þe dede bettir avysid and more avesy.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1466 : Þe streyte weye is so importune, So dredful eke and so ful of rage, Þat saue dethe þer is no passage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1062 : Þe grete labour is so inportune, Þat we ne shal no while mowe sustene.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)674/13 : Hit is nedefull that all cristen men..to norissh worshipfull places with there persones I-sette to goddis seruyce, that they be not..I-weried with importune grefis.
- c1613(1464) Plumpton Let.33 : The labour is so importune that I cannot attend it without I shold do nothing ells.
d
- (1445) ?Bokenham Claudian CS (Add 11814)267/115 : Vncurteys goddis and importune fer from thy mende arn dreve.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)33 : Kepe yow from noyse and Ianglyng importune; The howse of god ys ordeynyd for prayere.