different between superpose vs impose

English

Etymology

super- +? pose

Verb

superpose (third-person singular simple present superposes, present participle superposing, simple past and past participle superposed)

1. (transitive) To place (one thing) on top of another.
2. (transitive, mathematics) To place (one geometric figure) on top of another in such a way that all common parts coincide.

See also

• superimpose
• superposition

Translations

French

Verb

superpose

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

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