THE FIRST WORD

importune

PRONUNCIATION:

(im-pawr-TOON, im-pawr-TYOON, im-PAWR-chuhn) 

MEANING:

verb tr.: To ask someone, repeatedly or annoyingly, to do something.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin importunus, from in- (not) + portus (port, refuge). Ultimately from the Indo-European root per- (to lead, pass over), which also gave us support, comport, petroleum, sport, passport, petrify, colporteur (a peddler of religious books), Swedish fartlek (a training technique), Norwegian fjord (bay), and Sanskrit parvat (mountain). Earliest documented use: 1530.

USAGE:

"José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain's prime minister, has cast dignity aside and importuned all and sundry with a request to be invited to a conference."
After the Fiesta; The Economist (London, UK); Nov 6, 2008.