Other forms: impositions
An imposition is an unfair demand placed on somebody. Quite an imposition, sorry for the imposition, an imposition on their time.
It is the polite word for asking too much — I hope it is not an imposition — and it is used most by people who know perfectly well that it is. It also means the formal placing of something: the imposition of a curfew, the imposition of tariffs. Note impose; and that the Latin means placing upon, which covers both senses exactly.
1nounimpositionAn unfair demand placed on somebody.
“Being asked to work every weekend felt like an unfair imposition.”
2nounruleThe formal placing of a rule or charge.
“The imposition of a new tax on sugar made fizzy drinks more expensive.”
imposition is an unfair demand or a placing.
im-POSITION → put in a POSITION
It puts you in a position you never chose and cannot easily leave.
hooks ontoposition
Latin impositio comes from imponere, to place upon — in plus ponere, to place. Position, compose and deposit come from the same placing.
Middle English
imposicioun
English, today
imposition
From Middle English imposicioun. From Middle English imposicioun, from Old French imposicion, from Latin impositio.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in A Song of Ice and Fire