Impossible
(Im*pos"si*ble), n. An impossibility. [Obs.]
"Madam," quoth he, "this were an impossible!"
Chaucer. Impossibly
(Im*pos"si*bly), adv. Not possibly. Sir. T. North.
Impost
(Im"post) n. [OF. impost, F. impot, LL. impostus, fr. L. impostus, p. p. of imponere to impose.
See Impone.]
1. That which is imposed or levied; a tax, tribute, or duty; especially, a duty or tax laid by goverment on
goods imported into a country.
Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost.
Macaulay. 2. (Arch.) The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.
The impost is called continuous, if the moldings of the arch or architrave run down the jamb or pier
without a break.
Syn. — Tribute; excise; custom; duty; tax.
Imposthumate
(Im*post"hu*mate) v. t. [See Imposthume.] To apostemate; to form an imposthume or
abscess. Arbuthnot.
Imposthumate
(Im*post"hu*mate), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imposthumated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Imposthumating
] To affect with an imposthume or abscess.
Imposthumate
(Im*post"hu*mate) a. Imposthumated.
Imposthumation
(Im*post`hu*ma"tion) n.
1. The act of forming an abscess; state of being inflamed; suppuration.
2. An abscess; an imposthume. Coxe.
Imposthume
(Im*post"hume) n. [A corruption of aposteme. See Aposteme.] A collection of pus or
purulent matter in any part of an animal body; an abscess.
Imposthume
(Im*post"hume), v. t. & i. Same as Imposthumate.
Impostor
(Im*pos"tor) 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.
Syn. — Deceiver; cheat; rogue. See Deceiver.
Impostorship
(Im*pos"tor*ship), n. The condition, character, or practice of an impostor. Milton.
Impostress
(Im*pos"tress Im*pos"trix) n. [LL. impostrix. See Impostor.] A woman who imposes upon
or deceives others. [R.] Fuller.
Impostrous
(Im*pos"trous) n. Characterized by imposture; deceitful. "Impostrous pretense of knowledge."
Grote.
Imposturage
(Im*pos"tur*age) n. Imposture; cheating. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
