Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM-PON-DER-A-BIL'I-TY, n.

Absolute levity; destitution of sensible weight.

IM-PON'DER-A-BLE, or IM-PON'DER-OUS, a. [in and ponderable, ponderous.]

Not having sensible weight. Brown.

IM-PON'DER-A-BLE-NESS, n.

State of being imponderable.

IM-PON'DER-OUS-NESS, n.

State of being imponderous.

IM-POOR', v.t. [in and poor.]

To impoverish. [Not in use.] Browne.

IM-PO-ROS'I-TY, n. [in and porosity.]

Want of porosity; closeness of texture; compactness that excludes pores. Bacon.

IM-PO'ROUS, a.

Destitute of pores; very close or compact in texture; solid. Brown. Ray.

IMPORT, n.

1. That which is borne or conveyed in words; meaning; signification; the sense which words are intended to convey to the understanding, or which they bear in sound interpretation. Import differs from implication in this, that the meaning of a term or number of words in connection is less obscurely expressed. Import depends less on inference or deduction than implication, and is also applied more frequently to a single word. In all philosophical discussions, it is useful to ascertain the import of the terms employed. In the construction of laws and treaties, we are to examine carefully the import of words and phrases.
2. That which is imported or brought into a country from another country or state; generally in the plural. Our imports exceed our exports; the balance must be paid in specie; hence the scarcity of coin.
3. Importance; weight; consequence. [Formerly accented on the second syllable.] Shak. Dryden.

IM-PORT', v.t. [Fr. importer; L. importo; in and porto, to bear. See Bear.]

1. To bring from a foreign country or jurisdiction, or from another state, into one's own country, jurisdiction or state; opposed to export. We import teas and silks from China, wines from Spain and France, and dry goods from Great Britain. Great Britain imports cotton from America and India. We may say also that Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine import flour from the middle states.
2. To bear or convey, as signification or meaning; to mean; to signify; to imply. We are to understand by a term, what it clearly imports.
3. To be of weight to; to be of moment or consequence to; to bear on the interest of, or to have a bearing on. Her length of sickness, with what else more serious / Importeth thee to know, this bears. Shak. If I endure it, what imports it you? Dryden.

IM-PORT'A-BLE, a.

1. That may be imported.
2. Insupportable; not to be endured. [Obs.] Spenser.

IM-PORT'ANCE, n. [Fr.; Sp. importancia; It. importanza; from import.]

1. Weight; consequence; a bearing on some interest; that quality of any thing by which it may affect a measure, interest or result. The education of youth is of great importance to a free government. A religious education is of infinite importance to every human being.
2. Weight or consequence in the scale of being. Thy own importance know, / Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. Pope.
3. Weight or consequence in self-estimation. He believes himself a man of importance.
4. Thing implied; matter; subject; importunity. [In these senses, obsolete.] Shak.

IM-PORT'ANT, a. [Fr.]

1. Literally, bearing on or to. Hence, weighty; momentous; of great consequence; having a bearing on some interest, measure or result by which good or ill may be produced. Truth is important to happiness as well as to knowledge, but none so important as religious truth. The commerce of Great Britain is important to her navy, and her navy is important to her independence. Men often forget the important end for which they were created.
2. Bearing on; forcible; driving. He fiercely at him flew, / And with important outrage him assailed. Spenser.
3. Importunate. [Not used.] Shak.

IM-PORT'ANT-LY, adv.

Weightily; forcibly. Hammond.

IM-PORT-A'TION, n. [Fr.; from import.]

1. The act or practice of importing, or of bringing from another country or state; opposed to exportation. Nations forbid the importation of commodities which are produced or manufactured in sufficient abundance at home.
2. The wares or commodities imported. The importations, this season, exceed those of the last.
3. Conveyance.

IM-PORT'ED, pp.

Brought from another country or state.

IM-PORT'ER, n.

He that imports; the merchant who, by himself or his agent, brings goods from another country or state.

IM-PORT'ING, ppr.

1. Bringing into one's own country or state from a foreign or distant state.
2. Bearing, as a signification; meaning.
3. Having weight or consequence.

IM'PORT-LESS, a.

Of no weight or consequence. [Not used.] Shak.

IM-PORT'U-NA-CY, n.

The act of importuning; importunateness.

IM-POR'TU-NATE, a. [L. importunus. See Importune.]

1. Bearing on; pressing or urging in request or demand; urgent and pertinacious in solicitation; as, an importunate suitor or petitioner.
2. Pressing; urgent; as, an importunate demand.
3. Inciting urgently for gratification; as, importunate passions and appetites.

IM-PORT'U-NATE-LY, adv.

With urgent request; with pressing solicitation.

IM-PORT'U-NATE-NESS, n.

Urgent and pressing solicitation. Digby.

IM-PORT'U-NA-TOR, n.

One that importunes. [Not in use.] Sandys.

IM-POR-TUNE', a. [L. importunus. Formerly accented on the second syllable.]

1. Pressing in request; urgent; troublesome by frequent demands; vexatious; unreasonable. Spenser. Bacon.
2. Unseasonable. [This word is obsolete; being superseded by importunate, unless perhaps in poetry.]

IM-POR-TUNE', v.t. [Fr. importuner; Sp. importunar; It. importunare; from L. importunus; in and porto, to bear on.]

To request quest with urgency; to press with solicitation; to urge with frequent or unceasing application. Their ministers and residents here have perpetually importuned the court with unreasonable demands. Swift.