Английский Этимологический словарь - import (v.)

- early 15c., from L. importare "bring in, convey," from in- "into" + portare "carry." Originally "convey information, express;" sense of "bring in goods from abroad" first recorded 1508; that of "imply, signify" is from 1529, from a sense found in M.L. The noun meaning "consequence, importance" is from 1588; sense of "that which is imported" is from 1690.