importunity

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
18
Words With Friends
21
Letters
11
Pronunciation
/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːnɪti/ (UK)
See all 2 pronunciations
/ɪmpɔːˈtjuːnɪti/ (UK) · /ˌɪmpɔɹˈtuːnɪti/ (US)

Definition of importunity

2 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

  1. A constant and insistent demanding.
    “Then way what loſſe your honor may ſuſtaine / If with too credent eare you liſt his ſongs / Or looſe your hart, or your chaſt treaſure open / To his vnmaſtred importunity.”
    “I say vnto you, Though he will not rise, and giue him, because he is his friend: yet because of his importunitie, hee will rise and giue him as many as he needeth.”
    “The truth of my Third Accuſation is confeſt, but the guilt, not acknovvledged; ſince that vvhich excites men to endleſs bavvlings, and altercations; Schiſms, Hereſies and Rebellions, by the vehemencies of Diſpute, is it ſeems vvith our Author no more noxious and criminal, then the Sun that ſtirrs men up to their vvork in the morning, by the importunity of it's beams.”
    “For if through Importunity, a poor VVidovv-vvoman may prevail vvith an unjuſt Judge; and ſo conſequently vvith an unmerciful and hard-hearted Tyrant, hovv much more ſhall the poor, afflicted, diſtreſſed, and tempted People of God, prevail vvith, and obtain Mercy at the Hands of a loving, juſt, and merciful God?”
    “Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and no longer able to satisfy every request that was made him, instead of money he gave promises.”
See all 2 definitions

noun

  1. A constant and insistent demanding.
    “Then way what loſſe your honor may ſuſtaine / If with too credent eare you liſt his ſongs / Or looſe your hart, or your chaſt treaſure open / To his vnmaſtred importunity.”
    “I say vnto you, Though he will not rise, and giue him, because he is his friend: yet because of his importunitie, hee will rise and giue him as many as he needeth.”
    “The truth of my Third Accuſation is confeſt, but the guilt, not acknovvledged; ſince that vvhich excites men to endleſs bavvlings, and altercations; Schiſms, Hereſies and Rebellions, by the vehemencies of Diſpute, is it ſeems vvith our Author no more noxious and criminal, then the Sun that ſtirrs men up to their vvork in the morning, by the importunity of it's beams.”
    “For if through Importunity, a poor VVidovv-vvoman may prevail vvith an unjuſt Judge; and ſo conſequently vvith an unmerciful and hard-hearted Tyrant, hovv much more ſhall the poor, afflicted, diſtreſſed, and tempted People of God, prevail vvith, and obtain Mercy at the Hands of a loving, juſt, and merciful God?”
    “Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and no longer able to satisfy every request that was made him, instead of money he gave promises.”
  2. (obsolete)An inappropriate or unsuitable time; unseasonableness.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English importunyte, importunytee, inportunyte, ymportunite, from Middle French importunité and its etymon Latin importūnitās (“incivility”). By surface analysis, importune + -ity.

Words you can make from importunity

200+ playable · top: IMPUNITY (15 pts)

Best play impunity 15 points

8-letter words

6 words

7-letter words

11 words

6-letter words

21 words

5-letter words

56 words

4-letter words

87 words

3-letter words

18 words

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