What does "imposition" mean?

Imposition: That which is imposed, levied, or enjoined; charge; burden; injunction; tax.

Additional senses

  1. 2.(Eng. Univ.) An extra exercise enjoined on students as a punishment. T. Warton.
  2. 3.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. Shak.
  3. 4.(Eccl.) The act of laying on the hands as a religious ceremoy, in ordination, confirmation, etc.
  4. 5.(Print.) The act or process of imosing pages or columns of type. See Impose, v. t., 4. See Deception.

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