DIMENSIONS: DENOTATION / Quality
R E F E R E N C E S
Importance n. 1. the quality or state of being important. 2. important position or standing; personal or social consequence. 3. consequential air or manner. 4. obs. an important matter. 5. Obs. importunity. 6. Obs. import or meaning.
-Syn. 1. moment, weight, concern. Importance, Consequence, Significance refer to a quality, character, or standing such as to entitle to attention or consideration. Importance referring originally to the bringing or involving of noteworthy results, is the general term. Consequence, though of the same general sense, is a weaker word, less suggestive of seriousness, dignity, or extensiveness: The weather is a matter of consequence to the tourist, but of real importance to the farmer. Significance emphasizes the relation of the important matter to other things or people: of great significance for economic thought.
Important adj. 1. of much significance of conseqence. 2. mattering much [usually fl. by to]: details important to a fair decision. 3. of more than ordinary title to consideration or notice. 4. Prominent or large. 5. of considerable influence, authority, social consequence, or distinction. 6. pompous. 7. obs. importunate. [< ML important (s. of importáns) weighing, or weight, prp. of importáre]
Import v.t. 1. to bring in [merchandise] from a foreign country for sale, use, etc. 2. to bring or introduce from one use, connection, or relation in to another. 3. to convey as meaning or infomation, as by statements or actions. 4. to involve as a necessary circumstance; imply. 5. Rare. to be of consequence or importance to; concern. -v.i. 6. to be of consequence or importance; matter. -n. 7. something imported from abroad; an imported commodity or article. 8. the act of importing or bringing in; importation, as of goods from abroad. . . . . 9. meaning; implication; purport. 10. consequence or importance. . . . -Syn. 3. mean, signify. 9. significance, sense.
[Urdang, Laurence, ed. Random House Dictionary of The English Language. New York: Random House, 1968.]
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