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Importune vs Imperative - What's the difference?

importune | imperative |

As a verb importune

is .

As an adjective imperative is

.

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.

    imperative

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • essential
  • It is imperative that you come here right now.
  • (computing theory) Having a semantics that incorporates mutable variables.
  • (grammar) of, or relating to the imperative mood
  • Expressing a command; authoritatively or absolutely directive.
  • imperative orders
  • * Bishop Hall
  • The suits of kings are imperative .

    Noun

  • (uncountable, grammar) The grammatical mood expressing an order (see jussive). In English, the imperative form of a verb is the same as that of the bare infinitive.
  • The verbs in sentences like "Do it!" and "Say what you like!" are in the imperative .
  • (countable, grammar) A verb in imperative mood.
  • (countable) An essential action, a must: something which is imperative.
  • Visiting Berlin is an imperative .
  • *
  • Synonyms

    * (grammatical mood) imperative mood

    Derived terms

    * first imperative (Latin grammar) * second imperative (Latin grammar) * categorical imperative

    Coordinate terms

    * (in grammar) assertoric, interrogative