I. ˈtaks transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English taxen, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French taxer, from Medieval Latin taxare to tax, assess, from Latin, to touch, feel, rate, compute, censure, freq. of tangere to touch — more at tangent
1.
a. archaic : to place a value upon : estimate the worth of or fix the price of
b. : to assess, fix, or determine judicially the amount of
tax the costs of an action in court
2. : to make subject to the payment of a tax : levy a charge on ; especially : to exact money from for the support of government
3. obsolete : to enter in a list
a decree … that all the world should be taxed — Lk 2:1 (Authorized Version)
4.
a. : to call to account : take to task : charge , accuse
ran to grandfather and taxed him with his falsehoods — W.H.Hudson †1922
b. : censure
taxes science for being unable … to give us moral directives — Bernard Rosenberg
— usually used with with
5. : to place under onerous and rigorous demands
every muscle is taxed, and every nerve strained — John Burroughs
it may tax the highest wisdom of the race to preserve civilization at all — F.N.Robinson
Synonyms: see burden
II. noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from taxen, v.
1.
a.
(1) : a usually pecuniary charge imposed by legislative or other public authority upon persons or property for public purposes : a forced contribution of wealth to meet the public needs of a government — compare custom 3, death tax , excise , income tax , indirect tax , inheritance tax , single tax
(2) : direct tax
the Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises — U.S. Constitution
(3) Britain : a levy (as on income) paid to the national government — compare rate 3b (5)
b. : a sum levied on the members of an organization to defray its expenses
2. : a heavy charge or demand exacted : burden , strain
the grinding duties of this position … proved too great a tax on the strength of even so robust a man — A.W.Long