Nearby Words

impose

[im-pohz] Origin

im·pose

[im-pohz] verb, -posed, -pos·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.: to impose taxes.
2.
to put or set by or as if by authority: to impose one's personal preference on others.
3.
to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others.
4.
to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively: He imposed his pretentious books on the public.
5.
Printing. to lay (type pages, plates, etc.) in proper order on an imposing stone or the like and secure in a chase for printing.
EXPAND
6.
to lay on or inflict, as a penalty.
7.
Archaic. to put or place on something, or in a particular place.
8.
Obsolete. to lay on (the hands) ceremonially, as in confirmation or ordination.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
9.
to make an impression on the mind; impose one's or its authority or influence.
10.
to obtrude oneself or one's requirements, as upon others: Are you sure my request doesn't impose?
11.
to presume, as upon patience or good nature.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Impose is an LSAT word you need to know.
So is presuppose. Does it mean:
a learned person, expert, or authority who makes comments or judgments in an authoritative manner
to suppose or assume beforehand; to require or imply as an antecedent condition
12.
impose on/upon,
a.
to thrust oneself offensively upon others; intrude.
b.
to take unfair advantage of; misuse (influence, friendship, etc.).
c.
to defraud; cheat; deceive: A study recently showed the shocking number of confidence men that impose on the public.

Origin:
1475–85; late Middle English < Middle French imposer, equivalent to im- im-1 + poser to pose1; see also pose2

im·pos·a·ble, adjective
im·pos·er, noun
o·ver·im·pose, verb (used with object), -posed, -pos·ing.
pre·im·pose, verb (used with object), -posed, -pos·ing.
re·im·pose, verb, -posed, -pos·ing.
EXPAND
sub·im·posed, adjective
un·im·posed, adjective
well-im·posed, adjective
COLLAPSE


3. force, foist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To impose
Collins
World English Dictionary
impose (ɪmˈpəʊz)
 
vb (usually foll by on or upon)
1.  (tr) to establish as something to be obeyed or complied with; enforce: to impose a tax on the people
2.  to force (oneself, one's presence, etc) on another or others; obtrude
3.  (intr) to take advantage, as of a person or quality: to impose on someone's kindness
4.  (tr) printing to arrange pages so that after printing and folding the pages will be in the correct order
5.  (tr) to pass off deceptively; foist: to impose a hoax on someone
6.  (tr) (of a bishop or priest) to lay (the hands) on the head of a candidate for certain sacraments
 
[C15: from Old French imposer, from Latin impōnere to place upon, from pōnere to place, set]
 
im'posable
 
adj
 
im'poser
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

impose
late 15c., "to lay (a crime, etc.) to the account of," from M.Fr. imposer, from in- "into" + poser "put, place" (see pose). Sense of "to lay on as a burden" first recorded 1580s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature