Importune

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/

Definitions

1. To ask someone for something in a way that is both persistent and bothersome, often leading to annoyance or irritation
2. To repeatedly beg or solicit someone for something, often in a way that may cause discomfort or impatience
3. To continuously press someone for a favor or action, sometimes to the point of being troublesome

Etymology: The Latin adjective "importūnus" meant "unfit" or "troublesome," and its literal sense was "having no harbor." The "in-" prefix negates and "portus" is the word for a harbor, so a person who had no port was one without shelter, a sense that drifted toward being unwelcome, awkward, and difficult to deal with. Latin speakers used it of disagreeable people and circumstances long before any sense of begging. The verb took its present meaning later. Medieval Latin "importūnor" meant "to make oneself troublesome," and French adopted it as "importuner," which carried that pestering sense into Middle French. English then borrowed the word from Anglo-Norman and Middle French as "importune" in Middle English, with the adjective and verb both in use.

Synonyms: urge, implore, exhort, entreat, beseech

Antonyms: dissuade, discourage, repulse, reject, turn away