impose
[im-pohz]
- to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.: to impose taxes.
- to put or set by or as if by authority: to impose one's personal preference on others.
- to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others.
- to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively: He imposed his pretentious books on the public.
- Printing. to lay (type pages, plates, etc.) in proper order on an imposing stone or the like and secure in a chase for printing.
- to lay on or inflict, as a penalty.
- Archaic. to put or place on something, or in a particular place.
- Obsolete. to lay on (the hands) ceremonially, as in confirmation or ordination.
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- to make an impression on the mind; impose one's or its authority or influence.
- to obtrude oneself or one's requirements, as upon others: Are you sure my request doesn't impose?
- to presume, as upon patience or good nature.
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- impose on/upon,
- to thrust oneself offensively upon others; intrude.
- to take unfair advantage of; misuse (influence, friendship, etc.).
- to defraud; cheat; deceive: A study recently showed the shocking number of confidence men that impose on the public.
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Origin of impose
Synonyms
See more synonyms for impose on Thesaurus.com3. force, foist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for reimpose
Contemporary Examples
Even if the regime manages to reimpose its authority over the city, however, Aleppo is much more fractured than before.
Clift: Some people say we should just reimpose the Glass-Steagall Act.
Why the reluctance to reimpose Glass-Steagall protections, which worked so well for so long?
Historical Examples
Every subsequent attempt to reimpose that yoke213 was foiled.
Ten Tudor StatesmenArthur D. Innes
When order was restored and the tribunal was re-established, there was a fruitless effort made to reimpose them.
A History of the Inquisition of Spain; vol. 3Henry Charles Lea
All such acts of misplaced mercy were pronounced void, and Zoen was ordered to reimpose all such penalties without appeal.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume IIHenry Charles Lea
It always ended with a reservation of power to modify, to mitigate, to increase, and to reimpose at discretion.
A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume IHenry Charles Lea
Once more the normal aspect of the situation began to reimpose itself upon the two women.
The Zeppelin's PassengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
reimpose
- to establish previously imposed laws, controls, etc, again
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impose
- (tr) to establish as something to be obeyed or complied with; enforceto impose a tax on the people
- to force (oneself, one's presence, etc) on another or others; obtrude
- (intr) to take advantage, as of a person or qualityto impose on someone's kindness
- (tr) printing to arrange pages so that after printing and folding the pages will be in the correct order
- (tr) to pass off deceptively; foistto impose a hoax on someone
- (tr) (of a bishop or priest) to lay (the hands) on the head of a candidate for certain sacraments
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Word Origin
C15: from Old French imposer, from Latin impōnere to place upon, from pōnere to place, set
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for reimpose
impose
v.
late 14c., "to lay (a crime, etc.) to the account of," from Old French imposer "put, place; impute, charge, accuse" (c.1300), from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (see in- (2)) + poser "put, place" (see pose (v.1)). Sense of "to lay on as a burden" first recorded 1580s. Related: Imposed; imposing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper