† importunancen.
Obsolete.
Importance, seriousness, gravity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [noun]
mund?c1250
steemc1330
greatnessc1410
substancec1425
importance1485
weight1521
moment1522
weightiness1530
importancy1531
importunance1546
import1548
reckoning1582
sequel1588
ponderosity1589
valure1594
consequence1597
significance1597
circumstance1599
consequent1599
eminency1622
importmenta1625
concernment1626
consideration1634
telling1636
signification1645
considerableness1647
concerningness1657
nearness1679
significancy1679
respectability1769
interest1809
noteworthiness1852
portee1893
valency1897
1546 in State Papers Henry VIII (1852) XI. 91 The Kinges Majestie shulde..be disapoynted of his enterpryse, which I besought Her to consider, and the greate importunance therof.
1645 R. Crakanthrop Let. 4 Aug. in J. Musgrave Yet Another Word to Wise (1646) 26 I wonder I heare not from you concerning it, it being a businesse of so great importunance.
1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie iii. sig. Eee3 Places of most importunance in it [sc. Phoenicia], 1. Ptolemais, now nothing but a ruine of what it hath been.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2018).
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n.1546