Make Your Point > Archived Issues > IMPORTUNATE

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explore the archives: "Importunate" is one of those sneaky words whose roots don't help you at all to figure out the meaning. If you didn't know this word, you'd have a look at it and say, "Okay, this means 'having no port.'" You'd be correct--that's what the roots mean. But the meaning went from "without a port" to "hard to access" to "troublesome" to "to make yourself troublesome." And that's where we ended up: today, "importunate" means "troublesome in an annoying, demanding, urgent way." Whew. Speaking of misleading words, could you recall a word meaning "relevant, related" that kinda looks like it should mean "germ-ridden" or "pertaining to German people"? make your point with... "IMPORTUNATE" To importune people is to bother and annoy them with urgent requests. So, importunate people and things are annoying because they demand your attention and bother you, especially by making urgent requests. Pronunciation: im POR chun ut (rhymes with "unfortunate") Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "an importunate problem." 2. After a linking verb, as in "The problem is importunate.") Other forms: Lots! The person who importunes you is an importuner (or an importunate). Something might happen importunely or importunately. An annoying request, demand, or solicitation is an importunity (and more than one are importunities). Importunity is also simply the quality or fact of being importunate. Importunateness is also a valid noun, but it sounds awkward. How to use it: Talk about importunate things: the importunate ringing of the phone, this importunate issue, importunate insects, importunate requests, importunate demands, importunate offers, importunate dust, importunate thoughts, importunate worries. Or, talk about importunate people: importunate telemarketers, importunate door-to-door solicitors. You might be importunate with someone: "The salesperson got importunate with me despite my attempts to walk away." You might also be importunate for something you want, or importunate to do something: "They're importunate for the money we owe them." "She's importunate to know why you're so late; she just won't drop it." examples: If your browser is cluttered with importunate pop-up ads, it might be time to check for viruses. Worries kept intruding on my mind, importunate for a solution. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "importunate" means when you can explain it without saying "harassing with demands" or "persistent and annoying." try it out: Think of the last time a phone call annoyed you, and fill in the blank: "It was just some importunate caller wanting me to _____." Example: "It was just some importunate caller wanting me to apply for a small business loan." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Well-Named Creatures: Some names for animals and other creatures define themselves instantly or after a brief moment’s thought: anteater, grasshopper, hummingbird, seahorse, octopus (eight-foot). But other names deserve some exploration; they hold hidden clues about what the animals look like or what they do. And sometimes the names reveal how baffled people were when they first caught a glimpse of the creatures and tried to name them. This month, I’ll give you the literal meaning of a creature's name, and you come up with what it is. Answers will appear in alphabetical order this month. (Oh, and the answers might be animals, birds, insects, or even extinct creatures.) Enjoy! From yesterday: A "flame-colored" creature is a f_______. Answer: This one was pretty easy, wasn't it? It's a flamingo, whose name comes from Spanish. Try this one today: A "river horse" is a h_______. review today's word: 1. One opposite of IMPORTUNATE is A. PATIENT B. PROPER C. PREENED 2. She still needs to learn how to _____ the importunities of men. A. deflect B. utilize C. invite Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. A (Or B, if your view is more cynical than mine!)