n. [ OF. impost, F. impot, LL. impostus, fr. L. impostus, p. p. of imponere to impose. See Impone. ]
Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The impost is called continuous, if the moldings of the arch or architrave run down the jamb or pier without a break.
v. t. [ See Imposthume. ] To apostemate; to form an imposthume or abscess. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
a. Imposthumated. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
v. t. & i. Same as Imposthumate. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ A corruption of aposteme. See Aposteme. ] A collection of pus or purulent matter in any part of an animal body; an abscess. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. impostor a deceiver, fr. imponere to impose upon, deceive. See Impone. ] One who imposes upon others; a person who assumes a character or title not his own, for the purpose of deception; a pretender. “The fraudulent impostor foul.” Milton.
n. The condition, character, or practice of an impostor. Milton.