impose

verb imposes · imposing · imposed · impose

1. archaic, transitive To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set. [H]is Svvaine / Strevv'd faire greene Oſiers; and impoſ'd thereon / A good ſoft Sheepeskin, vvhich made him a Throne.
2. archaic, transitive To lay or place (one's hands) on someone as a blessing, during rites of confirmation, ordination, etc. [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.
3. archaic, transitive To lay (columns or pages of type, or printing plates) arranged in a proper order on the bed of a press or an imposing stone and secure them in a chase in preparation for printing. 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. figuratively, transitive To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority. Congress imposed new tariffs.

   Similar: lay

5. figuratively, transitive 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). Social relations impose courtesy.
6. figuratively, transitive To force or put (a thing) on someone or something by deceit or stealth; to foist, to obtrude. 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. UK, figuratively, transitive To subject (a student) to imposition (“a task inflicted as punishment”).
8. archaic, figuratively, obsolete, transitive To appoint (someone) to be in authority or command over other people.
9. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To accuse someone of (a crime, or a sin or other wrongdoing); to charge, to impute. 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: […]
10. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To put (a conclusion or end) to something definitively. [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. intransitive To affect authoritatively or forcefully; to influence strongly. 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.
12. intransitive To encroach or intrude, especially in a manner regarded as unfair or unwarranted; to presume, to take advantage of; also, to be a burden or inconvenience. I don’t wish to impose upon you.

    Similar: presume

13. intransitive To practise deceit or stealth; to cheat, to deceive, to trick. 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. intransitive, obsolete To subject to an impost, levy, tax, etc. 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 ordi

Similar: enjoin, force, inflict, lay

noun imposes

1. obsolete An act of placing or putting on something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, a task, etc.; an imposition. According to your Ladiſhips impoſe, / I am thus early come, to knovv vvhat ſeruice / It is your pleaſure to command me in.