Importune vs Mercurial - What's the difference?

importune | mercurial |


As a verb importune

is .

As a noun mercurial is

(obsolete) any of the plants known as mercury.

As an adjective mercurial is

(often capitalized, see (mercurial)) pertaining to the planet mercury.

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.

    Related terms

    * importunate ----

    mercurial

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Any of the plants known as mercury.
  • (astrology) Someone born under the influence of Mercury.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (often capitalized, see (Mercurial)) Pertaining to the planet Mercury.
  • (often capitalized, see (Mercurial)) Pertaining to the Roman god Mercury, the god of trade; hence, money-making; crafty..
  • * J. Q. Adams
    • the mercurial wand of commerce
  • (astrology) Born under the influence of the planet Mercury, and having such characteristics.
  • Of, or pertaining to the element mercury; containing mercury; caused by the action of mercury or quicksilver.
  • Having a volatile or lively character; quick-witted, changeable, animated.
  • * 1723 , Charles Walker, Memoirs of Sally Salisbury , I:
    • From the natural Mercurial Briskness of her Temper, a sedentary Life had ever been her Aversion [...].

    Derived terms

    * mercurial eczema * mercurial glossitis * mercurial ointment * mercurial phosphorus * mercurial pneumatic trough * mercurial rash * mercurial trough * mercurialisation, mercurialization * mercurialise, mercurialize * mercurialism * mercurialist * mercuriality * mercurially * organomercurial

    Related terms

    * mercuric, mercury, Mercury