/ ˌɪmpɔːˈtjuːn; NAmE -pɔːrˈtuːn/ verb
[ vn , vn to inf ] importune (sb) (for sth) ( formal ) to ask sb for sth many times and in a way that is annoying
SYN pester
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French importuner or medieval Latin importunari , from Latin importunus inconvenient, unseasonable, based on Portunus , the name of the god who protected harbours (from portus harbour).