Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “importunity” come from?

Importunity comes from Middle French importunité, from Latin importunitas, composed of the Latin prefix in- and Latin opportunitas, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "not" and "being."

importunity (English): A constant and insistent demanding; An...

Definitions

  1. A constant and insistent demanding; An...

Ancestry of “importunity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishimportunitie—
2Middle Frenchimportunité—
3Latinimportunitasincivility, impoliteness, rudeness, insolence
4Latinimportūnus—
5Proto-Italicportusharbour
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpértuscrossing
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →