impose

1. (transitive)Examples: "[H]is Svvaine / Strevv'd faire greene Oſiers; and impoſ'd thereon / A good ſoft Sheepeskin, vvhich made him a Throne."; "It vvas here likevviſe, in a place vvhere the diſtance betvveen the oppoſite banks cannot exceed five hundred paces, that Xerxes impoſed a ſtupendous bridge of boats, for the purpoſe of tranſporting into Europe an hundred and ſeventy myriads of barbarians."Synonyms: layarchaictransitive

2. (transitive)Examples: "[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."; "[W]hen Iſraell bleſſed Ephraim and Manaſſes Ioſephs ſonnes, hee impoſed vpon them his hands and prayed, […]"; "[T]hat the Apoſtolate might be ſucceſſive and perpetuall, Chriſt gave them a povver of ordination, that by impoſing hands on others they might impart that povver vvhich they receiued from Chriſt."Synonyms: layarchaictransitive

3. (transitive)Examples: "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."Synonyms: layarchaictransitive

4. (transitive)Synonyms: layfigurativelytransitive

5. (transitive)Examples: "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. 1948 October 27 (date delivered), Harry S. Truman, “Address at Mechanics Hall in Boston”, in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman: Containing the Public Messages, Speeches, and Statements of the President: January 1 to December 31, 1948, Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, General Services Administration; United States Government Printing Office, published 1964, →OCLC, page 884, column 1: [W]e don't want any Communist government in the United States of America. And if the people of other countries don't want communism, we don't want to see it imposed upon them against their will. 1950 March, H. A. Vallance, “On Foot Across the Forth Bridge”, in The Railway Magazine, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 149: Detailed records are kept of the strains imposed on the bridge by the violent gales that frequently sweep the firth, and a self-recording wind gauge is fixed on the top of the tower. 1975 February 11, Marian Christy, quoting Suzy Chaffee, “Suzy Chaffee‘s choice on nude photos”, in Boston Evening Globe (Living section), final edition, volume 207, number 42, Boston, Mass.: The Globe Newspaper Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 25, column 5: It's foolish for society to impose the restriction of one man to the married woman. I'm not advocating sexual promiscuity but I think it's possible for a woman to have many kinds of relationships with many men and that shouldn't affect the status of the marriage. The husband, in turn, should have the same freedoms. 2011 December 10, Arindam Rej, “Norwich 4 – 2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 12 Mar 2023: Norwich soon began imposing themselves on that patched-up defence with [Grant] Holt having their best early chance, only to see it blocked by [Danny] Simpson. To force or put (a thing) on someone or something by deceit or stealth; to foist, to obtrude. (UK, school or university slang) To subject (a student) to imposition (“a task inflicted as punishment”). (archaic or obsolete) To appoint (someone) to be in authority or command over other people. (obsolete) To accuse someone of (a crime, or a sin or other wrongdoing); to charge, to impute. 1804, Thomas of Kempis [i.e., Thomas à Kempis], “For Passion Sunday. [Of Seven Most Remarkable Points to be Thought upon in Christ’s Passion.]”, in [anonymous], transl., Viator Christianus, or, The Christian Traveller. […], Dublin: […] T. Codd, […], →OCLC, paragraph 21, page 148: Thou falſely impoſeſt a capital crime upon him [Jesus], namely, that he made himſelf a King, whereas he never uſed any royal ornaments, according to the pomp of this world. (obsolete) To put (a conclusion or end) to something definitively."; "Congress imposed new tariffs."; "Sanctions were imposed on the country that had made an unprovoked attack on its neighbour."Synonyms: layintransitivetransitive

6. (intransitive) Chiefly followed by on or upon.Examples: "I don’t wish to impose upon you."; "[T]hey do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never had a power to do hurt to his people, nor would exercise it: and therefore there is no danger, in the passing this Bill, of imposing on his prerogative; […]"; "Your character was unfolded in the recital which I received many months ago from Mr. Wickham. On this subject, what can you have to say? In what imaginary act of friendship can you here defend yourself? or under what misrepresentation can you here impose upon others?""Synonyms: presumeintransitive