different between impost vs impest

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??mp??st/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??mpo?st/
• Rhymes: -??st

Etymology 1

From Middle French impost, from Latin imp?situs, past participle of imp?n? (“I impose”).

Noun

impost (plural imposts)

1. (chiefly historical) A tax, tariff or duty that is imposed, especially on merchandise.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 56:

     New universal direct taxes had to be introduced […] , while the burden of indirect taxes was also made heavier, with new imposts being levied on an ensemble of items ranging from playing cards to wigs.

2. (horse racing, slang) The weight that must be carried by a horse in a race, the handicap.

Translations

See also

• imposter, impostor, impose

Etymology 2

From Italian imposta, from Latin imposta.

Noun

impost (plural imposts)

1. (architecture) The top part of a column, pillar, pier, wall, etc. that supports an arch.

Catalan

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin *imp?situm.

Noun

impost m (plural imposts or impostos)

1. tax

English

Etymology

From im- +? pest.

Verb

impest (third-person singular simple present impests, present participle impesting, simple past and past participle impested)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To afflict with pestilence.