Importune vs Petition - What's the difference?

importune | petition | Related terms |

Importune is a related term of petition.


As a verb importune

is .

As a noun petition is

petition.

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 ----

    petition

    English

    (wikipedia petition)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A formal, written request made to an official person or organized body, often containing many signatures.
  • A compilation of signatures built in order to exert moral authority in support of a specific cause.
  • (legal) A formal written request for judicial action.
  • A prayer; a supplication; an entreaty.
  • * Bible, 1. Macc. vii. 37
    • A house of prayer and petition for thy people.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make a request, commonly in written form.