importunus
μηδενί δίκην δικάσῃς πρίν ἀμφοῖν μῦθον ἀκούσῃς → do not give your judgement on anything until you have heard a speech on both sides
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
importūnus: (inp-), a, um, adj. from porto, qs. not conducive, not proper; opp. opportunus; hence,
I unfit, unsuitable, inconvenient (cf.: molestus, intempestivus, praeposterus).
I In gen. (rare): num importunum tempus in tanto otio? Cic. de Or. 2, 5, 20 B. and K. (al. inopportunum): aggeribus turribusque et aliis machinationibus locus inportunus, Sall. J. 92, 7: importuna locorum, Sil. 3, 540; cf.: Armeniam petunt, id temporis importunam, quia hiems occipiebat, Tac. A. 12, 12: etenim est in eo loco sedes huic nostro non importuna sermoni, Crass. ap. Cic. de Or. 3, 5, 18: vi quidem regere patriam aut parentis importunum est, Sall. J. 3, 2.—
II ln partic., pregn.
A Troublesome, grievous, distressing, dangerous (rare): quom illi inportunam tempestatem conciet, Plaut. Trin. 2, 3, 8: neque alius importunior acutiorque morbus est, Cels. 4, 3: pauperies, Hor. C. 3, 16, 37: Caphareus, stormy, Ov. M. 14, 481.—
B With respect to character, indecorous, unmannerly, uncivil, rude, morose, harsh, churlish, cruel, savage (class.; syn.: crudelis, immanis; opp. clemens).
1 Of living beings: tam enim esse clemens tyrannus quam rex importunus potest, Cic. Rep. 1, 33: importunus atque amens tyrannus, id. Verr. 2, 5, 40, § 103: crudelis atque importuna mulier, id. Clu. 63, 177: tam importunus tamque crudelis, id. Fin. 1, 10, 35: crudelissimus atque importunissimus tyrannus, Liv. 29, 17, 20: uxor importuna atque incommoda, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 47: senex, Ter. Heaut. 1, 2, 23: importunissimus hostis, Cic. Cat. 2, 6, 12: decemviri, Liv. 5, 2, 8: plebeii quam fuerint importuni, vides, Cic. Fam. 9, 21 fin.: locutores, Gell. 1, 15, 1: dives et importunus, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 185: eripiet curule cui volet importunus ebur, id. ib. 1, 6, 54: volucres, Verg. G. 1, 470; Hor. S. 1, 8, 6; cf.: ales (bubo), i. e. infausta, Verg. A. 12, 864.—
2 Of things: immanis atque importuna natura, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 8: libidines, id. ib. 2, 4, 50, § 111: clades civitatis, id. Brut. 97, 332: mors, Ov. Am. 3, 9, 19: sitis famesque argenti, Hor. Ep. 1, 18, 23: importuna atque audax argutia, Gell. 3, 1, 6. — Adv.: importunē (inp-), unsuitably, unseasonably; rudely, violently: confidere suis testibus et importune insistere, Cic. Ac. 2, 25, 80: repetere, Dig. 13, 6, 17: immittere versum de Pyrrho, Gell. 10, 16, 18: vexare civitates tyrannica crudelitate, Just. 42, 1.—Comp.: insultare veritati, Lact. 5, 2. —Sup.: facere, Gell. 20, 6, 14.
