import (comes into general use in the 16th cent. with many meanings; 5, 7 not pre-S.)
1.
to bring about,
carry with it or involve as a con sequence Meas. V. i. 109, R3 III. vii. 67,
Lr. IV. iii. 5
“which i-s to the
kingdom so much fear and danger,”
Ant. II. ii. 139.
2.
to imply, betoken,
indicate, signify, denote Wint. I. ii.
57,
Rom. V. i. 28
“Your looks . . . do
Some misadventure,”
Ham. III. ii. 150
“Belike this show i-s
the argument of the play,”
IV. v. 27, IV. vii. 81, Oth. IV. i. 140,
Sonn. cxxii. 14
“To keep an adjunct to
remember thee Were to forgetfulness in
me.”
3.
to bear as its
purport, express, state Tim. V. ii.
11,
Ham. I. ii. 23
“message I-ing the
surrender of those lands,”
Lr. IV. v. 6, Oth. II. ii. 3, V. ii. 309; absol. John IV. iii. 17,
1H4 I. i. 51
“unwelcome news . . .,
and thus it did ”
(Ff “report”).
4.
to portend
1H6 I. i. 2
“Comets, importing
change of times and states.”
5.
to be important,
matter
1H4 IV. iv. 5
“How much they do ”
; with datival pron.
Troil. IV. ii. 52
“it doth him much to speak
with me,”
Ant. I. ii. 130
“with what else more
serious Importeth thee to know.”
6.
to relate to, concern
LLL. IV. i. 57
“This letter . . . i-eth
none here,”
Oth. I. iii. 285 (Q1
“concerne”).
