Impose
Pronunciation
- US IPA: /ɪmˈpoʊz/
- Rhymes: -əʊz
Origin
From Middle French imposer ("to lay on, impose"), taking the place of Latin imponere ("to lay on, impose"), from in ("on, upon") + ponere ("to put place").
Full definition of impose
Verb
- (transitive) To establish or apply by authority.
- MiltonDeath is the penalty imposed.
- Congress imposed new tariffs.
- 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/nyregion/new-jersey-continues-to-cope-with-hurricane-sandy.html?hp," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012)Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.
- (intransitive) to be an inconvenienceI don't wish to impose upon you.
- to enforce: compel to behave in a certain waySocial relations impose courtesy
- 2011, December 10, Arindam Rej, Norwich 4 - 2 Newcastle, Norwich soon began imposing themselves on that patched-up defence with Holt having their best early chance, only to see it blocked by Simpson.
- To practice a trick or deception.
- To lay on, as the hands, in the religious rites of confirmation and ordination.
- 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.