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imposition

 - 3 dictionary results

im⋅po⋅si⋅tion

  [im-puh-zish-uhn]
Use imposition in a Sentence
–noun
1. the laying on of something as a burden or obligation.
2. something imposed, as a burden or duty; an unusual or extraordinarily burdensome requirement or task.
3. the act of imposing by or as if by authority.
4. an instance of imposing upon a person: He did the favor but considered the request an imposition.
5. the act of imposing fraudulently or deceptively on others; imposture.
6. the ceremonial laying on of hands, as in confirmation or ordination.
7. Printing. the arrangement of page plates in proper order on a press for printing a signature.
8. the act of putting, placing, or laying on.
Origin:
1325–75; ME imposicioun < LL impositiōn- (s. of impositiō), equiv. to imposit(us) ptp. of impōnere to place upon, impose (im- im- 1 + posi-, var. s. of pōnere to put + -tus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To imposition
im·po·si·tion   (ĭm'pə-zĭsh'ən)   
n.  

  1. The act of imposing or the condition of being imposed.

  2. Something imposed, such as a tax, an undue burden, or a fraud.

  3. A burdensome or unfair demand, as upon someone's time: listened to the telemarketer but resented the imposition.

  4. Printing The arrangement of printed matter to form a sequence of pages.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

imposition 
c.1374, "the levying of taxes, a tax, duty," from O.Fr. imposition (1317), from L. impositionem (nom. impositio) "a laying on," from imponere "to place upon," from in- "into" + ponere "to put, place" (see position). Sense of "the act of putting (something) on (something else)" is from 1597. Meaning "an act of imposing" (on someone) first recorded 1632 (see impose).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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