Part 78

Shak.

Im*por"tan*cy (?), n. Importance; significance; consequence; that which is important. [Obs.] Shak. "Careful to conceal importancies." Fuller.

Im*por"tant (?), a. [F. important. See Import, v. t.] 1. Full of, or burdened by, import; charged with great interests; restless; anxious. [Obs.]

Thou hast strength as much As serves to execute a mind very important.

Chapman.

2. Carrying or possessing weight or consequence; of valuable content or bearing; significant; weighty.

Things small as nothing . . . He makes important.

Shak.

3. Bearing on; forcible; driving. [Obs.]

He fiercely at him flew, And with important outrage him assailed.

Spenser.

4. Importunate; pressing; urgent. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- Weighty; momentous; significant; essential; necessary; considerable; influential; serious.

Im*por"tant*ly, adv. In an important manner.

Im`por*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. importation. See Import, v. t.] 1. The act of carrying, conveying, or delivering. [R.]

2. The act or practice of importing, or bringing into a country or state; -- opposed to exportation.

3. That which is imported; commodities or wares introduced into a country from abroad.

Im*port"er (?), n. One who imports; the merchant who brings goods into a country or state; -- opposed to exporter.

Im*port"ing, a. Full of meaning. [Obs.] Shak.

Im*port"less, a. Void of meaning. [Obs.] Shak.

Im*por"tu*na*ble (?), a. Heavy; insupportable. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

Im*por"tu*na*cy (?), n. [From Importunate.] The quality of being importunate; importunateness.

Im*por"tu*nate (?), a. [See Importune.] 1. Troublesomely urgent; unreasonably solicitous; overpressing in request or demand; urgent; teasing; as, an impotunate petitioner, curiosity. Whewell.

2. Hard to be borne; unendurable. [R.] Donne.

-- Im*por"tu*nate*ly, adv. -- Im*por"tu*nate*ness, n.

Im*por"tu*na`tor (?), n. One who importunes; an importuner. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

Im`por*tune" (?), a. [F. importun, L. importunus; pref. im- not + a derivative from the root of portus harbor, importunus therefore orig. meaning, hard of access. See Port harbor, and cf. Importunate.] 1. Inopportune; unseasonable. [Obs.]

2. Troublesome; vexatious; persistent; urgent; hence, vexatious on account of untimely urgency or pertinacious solicitation. [Obs.]