different between interpose vs impose

English

Etymology

From Middle French interposer, influenced by poser (“to place, put”), from Latin interp?n?, from inter (“between”) + p?n? (“to place, put”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??n.t??p??z/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??n.t??po?z/
• Rhymes: -??z
• Hyphenation: in?ter?pose

Verb

interpose (third-person singular simple present interposes, present participle interposing, simple past and past participle interposed)

1. (transitive) To insert something (or oneself) between other things.
   • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar^[1], Act II, scene i,

     What watchful cares do interpose themselves

     Betwixt your eyes and night?

   • 1785, William Cowper, The Task^[2], book II, Philadelphia, Pa.: Thomas Dobson, 1787, page 30:

     Lands intersected by a narrow frith

     Abhor each other. Mountains interposed

     Make enemies of nations who had else

     Like kindred drops been mingled into one.

2. (transitive) To interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment.
   • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost^[3], book XII, lines 1-5:

     As one who in his journey bates at Noone,

     Though bent on speed, so her the Archangel paused

     Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,

     If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;

     Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes.

3. (transitive) To offer (one's help or services).
4. (intransitive) To be inserted between parts or things; to come between.
   • 1782, William Cowper, “Truth”, in Poems, London: J. Johnson:

     Suppose, unlook’d for in a scene so rude,

     Long hid by interposing hill or wood,

     Some mansion neat and elegantly dress’d,

     By some kind hospitable heart possess’d

     Offer him warmth, security and rest;

5. (intransitive) To intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation.

Synonyms

• (To insert something (or oneself) between other things): insert
• (To interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment): interrupt

Translations

Anagrams

• entropies, isentrope, tropeines

French

Pronunciation

• Homophones: interposent, interposes

Verb

interpose

1. first-person singular present indicative of interposer
2. third-person singular present indicative of interposer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of interposer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of interposer
5. second-person singular imperative of interposer

Italian

Verb

interpose

1. third-person singular past historic of interporre

Anagrams

• inesperto
• peroniste
• riponeste

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French imposer (“to lay on, impose”), taking the place of Latin imponere (“to lay on, impose”), from in (“on, upon”) + ponere (“to put, place”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?po?z/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?p??z/
• Rhymes: -??z

Verb

impose (third-person singular simple present imposes, present participle imposing, simple past and past participle imposed)

1. (transitive) To establish or apply by authority.

   Congress imposed new tariffs.

   • 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "[2]," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):

     Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.

2. (intransitive) to be an inconvenience (on or upon)

   I don't wish to impose upon you.

3. to enforce: compel to behave in a certain way

   Social relations impose courtesy
4. To practice a trick or deception (on or upon).
5. To lay on, as the hands, in the religious rites of confirmation and ordination.
6. To arrange in proper order on a table of stone or metal and lock up in a chase for printing; said of columns or pages of type, forms, etc.

Derived terms

• imposure
• superimpose

Related terms

• imposition

Translations

Further reading

• impose in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• impose in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• impose at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• mopies, pomeis

French

Verb

impose

1. first-person singular present indicative of imposer
2. third-person singular present indicative of imposer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of imposer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of imposer
5. second-person singular imperative of imposer

Italian

Verb

impose

1. third-person singular past historic of imporre