IMPOSE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Impose

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/ɪmpˈoʊz/ Listen

verb

Impose v. t. (past & past part. imposed; pres. part. imposing)

To lay on; to set or place; to put; to deposit. "Cakes of salt and barley (she) did impose Within a wicker basket."

To lay as a charge, burden, tax, duty, obligation, command, penalty, etc.; to enjoin; to levy; to inflict; as, to impose a toll or tribute. "What fates impose, that men must needs abide." "Death is the penalty imposed." "Thou on the deep imposest nobler laws."

(Eccl.) To lay on, as the hands, in the religious rites of confirmation and ordination.

(Print.) To arrange in proper order on a table of stone or metal and lock up in a chase for printing; said of columns or pages of type, forms, etc.

Impose v. i. To practice tricks or deception.

To impose on or To impose upon,

(a)

to pass or put a trick on; to delude; to cheat; to defraud. "He imposes on himself, and mistakes words for things."

(b)

to place an unwelcome burden or obligation on (another person); as, she imposed on her friend to drive her daughter to school.

(c)

to take unfair advantage of (a person, a friendship); as, he imposed on his friendship with The Mayor to gain business.

noun

Impose n. A command; injunction. (Obs.)

See images of 'Impose'

Etymology of 'Impose'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Impose" Quotes from Famous Books

... beneath all glosing About Free Labour, is Wealth's motto still; Ingenious fudge on shallow wits imposing, On banded Labour to impose its will, Capital needs (and lauds) Labour unbanded. The Many-headed ...

— Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, April 29, 1893 • Various

... Russian apathy," said Vronsky, pouring water from an iced decanter into a delicate glass on a high stem; "we've no sense of the duties our privileges impose upon us, and so we ...

— Anna Karenina • Leo Tolstoy

... to cause them to descend from heaven, to embrace them in their arms, and enjoy them as long as they desired." These extravagancies set all the company in a laughter; at which the Bonza was so enraged, that he flew out into greater passion, till the king commanded his brother to impose silence on him; after which, he caused his seat to be taken from under him, and commanded him to withdraw, telling him, by way of raillery, "That his choler was a convincing proof of a Bonza's holiness;" and then seriously adding, "That a man of his character had ...

— The Works of John Dryden, Volume XVI. (of 18) - The Life of St. Francis Xavier • John Dryden

... disobeying us he is disobeying his parents; secondly, because we are the authors of his education; thirdly, because he has made an agreement with us that he will duly obey our commands; and he neither obeys them nor convinces us that our commands are unjust; and we do not rudely impose them, but give him the alternative of obeying or convincing us;—that is what we offer, and he ...

— Crito • Plato

... continyoo onbroken them hectorin's of her's. I could onfold a fact or two about that wife of mine who cuts out the divorce from me in Laredo that would lead you to concloosions sim'lar. But she wasn't your wife; an' I don't aim to impose my domestic afflictions on this innocent camp, which bein' troo I mootely stands ...

— Wolfville Nights • Alfred Lewis

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