ə̇mˈpōz verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French imposer, modification (influenced by poser to put, place) of Latin imponere to put upon, impose, deceive, cheat, from in- in- (II) + ponere to put, place — more at pose , position
transitive verb
1. obsolete : charge , impute
2. : to give or bestow (as a name or title) authoritatively or officially
3.
a. obsolete : to cause to be burdened : subject — used with to
b.
(1) : to make, frame, or apply (as a charge, tax, obligation, rule, penalty) as compulsory, obligatory, or enforcible
impose a duty on a city official
the obligations imposed by international law — Encyc. Americana
: levy
impose a tax on all unmarried men
: inflict
impose punishment upon a traitor
flying imposes a heavy nervous strain on the individual — H.G.Armstrong
: force one to submit to or come into accord with — usually used with on or upon
moved the newspapers to impose a uniformity upon the written language — Oscar Handlin
impose their dictates on the smaller nations — Vera M. Dean
impose restraints upon the children
(2) : to establish forcibly
he imposed himself as leader
impose law and order on a primitive people
imposed a uniform organization over the whole of Lowland Britain — L.D.Stamp
(3) : to make to prevail as a basic pattern, order, or quality
neoclassic styles were imposed on the landscape — American Guide Series: Arizona
c. archaic : to lay (as a charge) upon a person
d. : to bring into being : create , generate
the dangers and irritations imposed by many railroad grade crossings — American Guide Series: Minnesota
4.
a. obsolete : to lay (the hands) on in an ecclesiastical rite (as blessing or confirmation)
b. archaic : set , place , put , deposit
c.
(1) : to arrange (type or plated pages) on an imposing stone preparatory to locking up in a chase ; sometimes : to arrange and lock up (pages)
(2) : to arrange (the component parts of a nonletterpress printing surface) in a similar manner
5.
a. : to force into the company or upon the attention of another
impose oneself upon others
b. : to inflict by deception or fraud : pass off
impose fake documents upon a gullible public
so long as imaginary events are not imposed upon the reader as historical evidence — J.L.Clifford
intransitive verb
: to take usually unwarranted advantage of something
I was not formally invited to my friend's party and I would not wish to impose by going uninvited
Synonyms: see dictate
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- impose on