impose
Formsimposes, imposing, imposed
Formsimposes, imposing, imposed
Pluralimposes
- 1To put a rule, tax, or punishment in place using your power or authority.
Like a teacher making everyone follow a new rule whether they like it or not.
The school will impose a fine on students who break the rules.
The city imposed a speed limit on the busy road.
Similarlevy, enforce, introduce, inflict, institute
Oppositelift, abolish, remove, repeal
Note
- 2To force yourself or your needs on someone in a way that feels unfair.
Like a guest who stays too long and starts to feel like a burden.
I don't want to impose on your family during the holidays.
He worried he was imposing by staying too long.
Similarpresume
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- 3
- 4
- 5To physically place or set one thing on top of another.
Like carefully setting one heavy book on top of another.
The mason will impose the heavy stone upon the base.
[H]is Svvaine / Strevv'd faire greene Oſiers; and impoſ'd thereon / A good ſoft Sheepeskin, vvhich made him a Throne.
1614, Homer, “The Sixteenth Book of Homer’s Odysseys”Here, impos'd means placed or laid on top.Similarlay
Note
- 6To place your hands on someone as a blessing during a church ceremony.
Like gently resting your hands on someone's head to wish them well.
The bishop will impose his hands on each new priest.
[T]hat the Apoſtolate might be ſucceſſive and perpetuall, Chriſt gave them a povver of ordination, that by impoſing hands on others they might impart that povver vvhich they receiued from Chriſt.
1642, Jer[emy] Taylor, “§ 3. With a Power of Joyning Others and Appointing Successors in the Apostolate.”Here, imposing hands means laying hands on someone as a blessing.Similarlay
Note
- 7To arrange pages of type in order and lock them in place for printing.
Like laying out puzzle pieces in the right order before locking the frame.
The printer will impose the pages before the run begins.
She imposed the type carefully so every page lined up.
Note
- 8To put a tax or charge on goods or people.
Note
- 9A duty or task placed on someone as a burden.
Like extra chores piled on you that you cannot refuse.
The new impose left the workers with little time to rest.
According to your Ladiſhips impoſe, / I am thus early come, to knovv vvhat ſeruice / It is your pleaſure to command me in.
c. 1590, William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”Here, impose means a task or duty given to someone.Note
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Practice
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Origin
This word came into Middle English from Old French, based on Latin. It combines a prefix meaning 'in, on' with a word meaning 'to place or put'.