importance

importance
/im pawr"tns/, n.
1. the quality or state of being important; consequence; significance.
2. important position or standing; personal or social consequence.
3. consequential air or manner: an air of bustling importance.
4. Obs. an important matter.
5. Obs. importunity.
6. Obs. import or meaning.
[1495-1505; < ML importantia. See IMPORTANT, -ANCE]
Syn. 1. moment, weight, concern. IMPORTANCE, CONSEQUENCE, SIGNIFICANCE, MOMENT all signify something valuable, influential, or worthy of note. IMPORTANCE is the most general of these, assigning exceptional or notable value or influence to a person or thing: the importance of Einstein's discoveries. CONSEQUENCE may suggest outstanding personal quality or position, or it may suggest importance because of results to be produced: a woman of consequence in world affairs; an event of great consequence for our future.
SIGNIFICANCE can be used interchangeably with importance or consequence, but it carries also the implication of importance that is not readily or immediately recognized: The significance of the discovery only became clear years later. MOMENT, on the other hand, almost always refers to immediately apparent, self-evident importance: a change of great moment for the nation's political system.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • importance — [ ɛ̃pɔrtɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1361; it. importanza, du lat. importare → 2. importer 1 ♦ Caractère de ce qui est important. ⇒ intérêt. Mesurer l importance d un événement. ⇒ dimension, gravité, portée. « Ces questions de langage me paraissent de haute… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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  • importance — Importance, Momentum, Pondus rei. Chose d importance, Res idonea de qua quaeratur, Res momentosa. Chose de si grande importance, Res magni momenti. Tu n as pas encores ouy ce qui est de plus grande importance, Nondum audisti quod est grauissimum …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • importance — Importance. subst. f. Consequence, ce qui fait qu une chose est importante. Il est de grande importance de bien commencer une affaire. c est une affaire d importance. l importance de la chose, de l affaire est que, &c. c est une affaire de plus… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • importance — [im pôrt′ ns] n. [MFr < OIt importanza] 1. the state or quality of being important; significance; consequence 2. Obs. a) a matter or consequence b) import, or meaning c) importunity SYN. IMPORTANCE, the broades …   English World dictionary

  • Importance — Im*por tance, n. [F. importance. See {Important}.] 1. The quality or state of being important; consequence; weight; moment; significance. [1913 Webster] Thy own importance know, Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • importance — UK US /ɪmˈpɔːtəns/ noun [U] ► the quality of being important: »Some managers acknowledge the importance of balancing work and family, and believe it necessary to design specific policies …   Financial and business terms

  • importance — (n.) c.1500, from M.Fr. importance or directly from M.L. importantia, from importantem (see IMPORTANT (Cf. important)) …   Etymology dictionary

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  • importance — I noun concern, concernment, consequence, distinction, eminence, emphasis, essentiality, fame, grandeur, gravity, greatness, import, influence, irreplaceability, magnitude, mark, materiality, materialness, memorability, memorableness, merit,… …   Law dictionary

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