impose English · revision 15074

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=la pōnō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ɪmˈpəʊz/, US /ɪmˈpoʊz/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|imposen]], [[bor|fro|imposer|t=to put, place, impute]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) formed from [[m|fro|im-]] and [[m|fro|poser|t=to put, place]] (see [[pose]]) to render [[la|impōnō|t=to place on, lay as a burden, deceive]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To put an obligation on, to lay something to a person's account: about 1380, in Chaucer's Boethius, in Barnhart; the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To impute is an obsolete sense of 1484,^(OED 1989)^(NODE 1998) and to apply with authority is from about 1500.^(Etymonline) To lay a tax or burden on, to inflict, is first recorded in 1581, probably from the Latin sense.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The laying on of hands is from 1582,^(OED 1989) placing someone in office from 1617,^(OED 1989) and arranging pages of type in printing from 1652.^(OED 1989) ''To impose upon'', to take advantage of or deceive, is from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) Imposing meant exacting in 1651 and impressive in 1786, after French imposant.^(Barnhart 1988) In west Somerset an imposing tradesman was one who overcharged.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – to put an obligation on.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1484 – to impute (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1581 – to levy, inflict.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1582 – to lay on hands.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1652 – to impose type (printing).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1786 – imposing, impressive.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To establish as compulsory; to [[levy]]: ''to impose a tax''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To apply or enforce by authority.^(AHD)

+ # To force oneself or one's presence on others; to [[obtrude]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''impose on'' or ''upon'': to take unfair advantage of: ''to impose on someone's kindness''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(printing)'' To arrange pages so that they will be in the right order after printing and folding.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imposer]]

+ * [[imposable]]

+ * [[self-imposed]]

+ * [[unimposed]]

+ * [[overimpose]]

+ * [[preimpose]]

+ * [[reimpose]]

+ * [[imposing]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[imposition]]

+ * [[impost]]

+ * [[postpone]]

+ * [[propone]]

+ * [[propose]]

+ * [[reimposition]]

+ * [[impostor]]

+ * [[pose]]

+ * [[position]]

+ * [[impound]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}