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Besiege vs Importune - What's the difference?

besiege | importune |

As verbs the difference between besiege and importune

is that besiege is (label) to beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer while importune is .

besiege

English

Verb

(besieg)
  • (label) To beset or surround with armed forces for the purpose of compelling to surrender, to lay siege to, beleaguer.
  • To beleaguer, lay siege to, beset.
  • to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.
  • importune

    English

    Verb

    (importun)
  • To bother, trouble, irritate.
  • * , II.17:
  • To deliberate, be it but in slight matters, doth importune me.
  • To harass with persistent requests.
  • * 1610 , , act 2 scene 1
  • You were kneel'd to, and importun'd otherwise / By all of us;.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • Their ministers and residents here have perpetually importuned the court with unreasonable demands.
  • To approach to offer one's services as a prostitute, or otherwise make improper proposals.
  • (obsolete) To import; to signify.
  • * Spenser
  • It importunes death.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Grievous, severe, exacting.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.vi:
  • And therewithall he fiercely at him flew, / And with importune outrage him assayld [...].
  • (obsolete) inopportune; unseasonable
  • (obsolete) troublesome; vexatious; persistent
  • * Spenser
  • And their importune fates all satisfied.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • Of all other affections it [envy] is the most importune and continual.