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Webster 1913 Edition


Imposition

Imˊpo-si′tion

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
impositio
the application of a name to a thing. See
Impone
.]
1.
The act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like.
“From imposition of strict laws.”
Milton.
Made more solemn by the
imposition
of hands.
Hammond.
2.
That which is imposed, levied, or enjoined; charge; burden; injunction; tax.
3.
(Eng. Univ.)
An extra exercise enjoined on students as a punishment.
T. Warton.
4.
An excessive, arbitrary, or unlawful exaction; hence, a trick or deception put on laid on others; cheating; fraud; delusion; imposture.
Reputation is an idle and most false
imposition
.
Shakespeare
5.
(Eccl.)
The act of laying on the hands as a religious ceremoy, in ordination, confirmation, etc.
Syn. – Deceit; fraud; imposture. See
Deception
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Imposition

IMPOSI'TION

,
Noun.
s as z. [L. impositio. See Impose.]
1.
In a general sense, the act of laying on.
2.
The act of laying on hands in the ceremony of ordination, when the bishop in the episcopal church, and the ministers in congregational churches, place their hands on the head of the person whom they are ordaining, while one prays for a blessing on his labors. The same ceremony is used in other cases.
3.
The act of setting on or affixing to; as the imposition of names.
4.
That which is imposed; a tax, toll, duty or excise laid by authority. Tyrants oppress their subjects with grievous impositions.
5.
Injunction, as of a law or duty.
6.
Constraint; oppression; burden.
Let it not be made, contrary to its own nature, the occasion of strife, a narrow spirit, and unreasonable impositions on the mind and practice.
7.
Deception; imposture.
Being acquainted with his hand, I had no reason to suspect an imposition.
8.
A supernumerary exercise enjoined on students as a punishment.

Definition 2024


imposition

imposition

English

Noun

imposition (plural impositions)

  1. The act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like.
  2. That which is imposed, levied, or enjoined.
  3. An excessive, arbitrary, or unlawful exaction; hence, a trick or deception put or laid on others.
  4. (printing) Arrangement of a printed product’s pages on the printer's sheet so as to have the pages in proper order in the final product.
  5. (religion) A practice of laying hands on a person in a religious ceremony; used e.g. in confirmation and ordination.
  6. (Britain) A task imposed on a student as punishment.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  • imposition in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • imposition in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

French

Noun

imposition f (plural impositions)

  1. imposition (all senses)