Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Imposition
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.
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.