importunus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɪm.pɔrˈtuː.nʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [im.porˈtuː.nus]^[1]

Forms

importūnus (feminine importūna, neuter importūnum, comparative importūnior, superlative importūnissimus); first/second-declension adjective^[1] Also spelled inportūnus.^[2]

Etymology

The OLD takes it as formed as the opposite of opportūnus “convenient”, originally a nautical metaphor, from in- “not” and portus “harbour”.^[2][3][1] Wiktionary traces ⟨portus⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *pértus (“crossing”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Livius Andronicus, whom he dates 280/260–before 200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant unsuitable, unfavourable, inconvenient, as in Cicero, and of a place hard to approach, as in Sallust; of persons regardless of others, troublesome, oppressive, as in Plautus; and perverse, as in Pliny.^[2][5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant unsuitable, troublesome, rude.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for unseasonable, of times and weather.^[7] Medieval Latin importūnārī “to be troublesome” is behind English importune (1520s).^[8]

Timeline

• 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^[4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of troublesome people.^[2][4]
• 1520s – English importune is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Unsuitable, inconvenient, unfavourable.^[2]
2. Troublesome, oppressive; importunate.^[2]
3. Perverse.^[2]

Word family

• importūnitās

Related words

• opportūnus
• portus
• English importune

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com