Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Import"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Import \Im*port"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Imported}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Importing}.] [L. importare to bring in, to occasion, to
cause; pref. im- in + portare to bear. Sense 3 comes through
F. importer, from the Latin. See {Port} demeanor.]
1. To bring in from abroad; to introduce from without;
especially, to bring (wares or merchandise) into a place
or country from a foreign country, in the transactions of
commerce; -- opposed to export. We import teas from China,
coffee from Brasil, etc.
2. To carry or include, as meaning or intention; to imply; to
signify.
Every petition . . . doth . . . always import a
multitude of speakers together. --Hooker.
3. To be of importance or consequence to; to have a bearing
on; to concern.
I have a motion much imports your good. --Shak.
If I endure it, what imports it you? --Dryden.
Syn: To denote; mean; sighify; imply; indicate; betoken;
interest; concern.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Import \Im*port"\, v. i.
To signify; to purport; to be of moment. ``For that . . .
importeth to the work.'' --Bacon.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Import \Im"port\, n.
1. Merchandise imported, or brought into a country from
without its boundaries; -- generally in the plural,
opposed to exports.
I take the imports from, and not the exports to,
these conquests, as the measure of these advantages
which we derived from them. --Burke.
2. That which a word, phrase, or document contains as its
signification or intention or interpretation of a word,
action, event, and the like.
3. Importance; weight; consequence.
Most serious design, and the great import. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
import
n 1: commodities (goods or services) bought from a foreign
country [ant: {export}]
2: an imported person brought from a foreign country; "the lead
role was played by an import from Sweden"; "they are
descendants of indentured importees" [syn: {importee}]
3: the message that is intended or expressed [syn: {meaning}, {significance},
{signification}]
4: a meaning that is not expressly stated but can be inferred;
"the significance of his remark became clear only later";
"the expectation was spread both by word and by
implication" [syn: {significance}, {implication}]
5: having important effects or influence; "decisions of great
consequence are made by the president himself"; "virtue is
of more moment that security" [syn: {consequence}, {moment}]
[ant: {inconsequence}]
v 1: bring in from abroad [ant: {export}]
2: indicate or signify; "I'm afraid this spells trouble!" [syn:
{spell}]
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