importuner

to bother

verb em-por-tu-NAY Rare

Origin: Latin 'importunus' (inconvenient)

Also means

to pester

Usage Note

Importuner is literary or formal; everyday French prefers embêter, déranger, or ennuyer for milder annoyance. The adjective importun ('inopportune, intrusive') shares the same root and is more commonly seen in written French. Using importuner in casual speech sounds deliberately elevated.

Examples

"Je ne voudrais pas vous importuner davantage."

Natural Translation

I would not want to bother you any further.

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