Question

In line 9 importuning most nearly means __________.

greeting

robbing

helping

begging

*mod note: apparently this is from Swift's A Modest Proposal?*

Answer 1

Relevant passage: (please post this next time)

It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and ***importuning*** every passenger for an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.

Answer 2

major hint: notice how the people importuning are requesting "alms" (money + food given esp. to impoverished people)