Word: impose Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Late Middle English imposen (“to place, set; to impose (a duty, etc.)”), borrowed from Middle French imposer, and Old French emposer, enposer (“to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”) (modern French imposer), from im-, em- (variants of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’)) + poser (“to place, put”), modelled after: * Latin impōnere (“to place or set (something) on; (figurative) to impose (a duty, tax, etc.)”), from im- (variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘on, upon’)) + pōnō (“to place, put; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂pó, *h₂epó (“away; off”) + *tḱey- (“to cultivate; to live; to settle”)); and * Latin impositus (“established; put upon, imposed”), the perfect passive participle of impōnō: see above. The noun is derived from the verb. Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpəʊz/, /ɪmˈpoʊz/, /ɪmˈpəʉz/, /əmˈpɐʉz/ 1. To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: [H]is Svvaine / Strevv'd faire greene Oſiers; and impoſ'd thereon / A good ſoft Sheepeskin, vvhich made him a Throne. Example: It vvas here likevviſe, in a place vvhere the diſtance betvveen the oppoſite banks cannot exceed five hundred paces, that Xerxes impoſed a ſtupendous bridge of boats, for the purpoſe of tranſporting into Europe an hundred and ſeventy myriads of barbarians. 2. To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: [Jesus] ſaid to them, Suffer the litle children to come vnto me, and prohibit them not, for the kingdom of God is for ſuch. […] And embracing them, and impoſing hands vpon them, he bleſſed them. Example: [W]hen Iſraell bleſſed Ephraim and Manaſſes Ioſephs ſonnes, hee impoſed vpon them his hands and prayed, […] 3. To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: They [pages] are imposed as follows, the illustration showing how the pages appear in the form. […] 18, 24, 32, and 48mo may be imposed in a similar manner, or may be so imposed as to be cut before folding. 4. To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: Congress imposed new tariffs. Example: Sanctions were imposed on the country that had made an unprovoked attack on its neighbour. 5. To place or put (something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, an encumbrance, a penalty, etc.) on another thing or on someone; to inflict, to repose; also, to place or put (on someone a chiefly immaterial thing, especially something regarded as burdensome). Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: Social relations impose courtesy. Example: [T]he courtier that proceeds in his matters, rather with oppinion and obſtinacy, then diſcretion and iudgement; ſhall neuer bee in fauor with the Prince, nor yet beeloued in the court. For it is as neceſſary for the courtier, that will ſeeke the fauor of the prince and loue of the court, to impoſe his tongue to ſylence: as it is to dyſpoſe his body to all maner of ſeruyce. 6. To force or put (a thing) on someone or something by deceit or stealth; to foist, to obtrude. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: I went to visite Mr. Ratcliffe, in whose lodging was an impostor that had like to have impos'd upon us a pretended secret of multiplying gold; 'tis certain he had liv'd some time in Paris in extraordinarie splendor, but I found him to be an egregious cheate. 7. To subject (a student) to imposition (“a task inflicted as punishment”). Labels: UK, figuratively, transitive 8. To appoint (someone) to be in authority or command over other people. Labels: archaic, figuratively, obsolete, transitive 9. To accuse someone of (a crime, or a sin or other wrongdoing); to charge, to impute. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: So, if a Sonne that is by his Father ſent about Merchandize, doe ſinfully miſcarry vpon the Sea; the imputation of his vvickedneſſe, by your rule, ſhould be impoſed vpon his Father that ſent him: […] Example: On him the King (in madneſſe ſo enrag'd) / Impoſde my death, himſelfe thereto that gag'd. 10. To put (a conclusion or end) to something definitively. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: [G]uards vvere held, at all parts, dayes and nights, / For feare of falſe ſurpriſe before, they had impoſde the crovvne / To theſe ſolemnities. 11. Chiefly followed by on or upon. Labels: intransitive Example: But it is not onely the Difficultie, and Labour, vvhich Men take in finding out of Truth; nor againe, that vvhen it is found, it impoſeth vpon mens Thoughts; that doth bring Lies in fauour: But a naturall, though corrupt Loue, of the Lie it ſelfe. Example: But I perceive they do think that I know too much, and shall impose upon whomever shall come next, and therefore must be removed, […] 12. Chiefly followed by on or upon. Labels: intransitive Example: I don’t wish to impose upon you. Example: [T]hey do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never had a power to do hurt to his people, nor would exercise it: and therefore there is no danger, in the passing this Bill, of imposing on his prerogative; […] 13. Chiefly followed by on or upon. Labels: intransitive Example: Know, that thou imposedst upon my sire and deceivedst him by dint of thy deluding vaunts, so that of his greed for gain he married me to thee. 14. Chiefly followed by on or upon. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: To impoſe upon all things brought into the Kin[g]dome is very ancient: vvhich impoſing vvhen it hath been continued a certain time, is them called Cuſtomes, becauſe the ſubjects are accuſtomed to pay it, and yet the great taxe upon vvine is ſtill called Impoſt, becauſe it vvas impoſed after the ordinary rate of payment, had laſted many years. Example: [W]hoso rhymes a sonnet pays a tax, / Who paints a landscape dips brush at his cost, / Who scores a septett true for strings and wind / Mulcted must be—else how should I impose / Properly, attitudinize aright, / Did such conflicting claims as these divert / Hohenstiel-Schwangau from observing me?