Word a Day
importunate
What does importunate mean?
importunate (adjective): expressing persistent and earnest entreaty.
Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Where does importunate come from?
First attested in 1477, in Middle English; from Latin importūnus + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), modelled on Middle French importuné.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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What does “importunate” mean?
high, tall, having great height or stature
Not quite: that's what lofty means.
expressing persistent and earnest entreaty
Right! That's what “importunate” means.
completely free from dirt or contamination
Not quite: that's what pristine means.
composed of people from all over the world
Not quite: that's what cosmopolitan means.
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