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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Even the ship money . . . Johnson could not pronounce to have been an unconstitutional impost. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Imposthume. ] To apostemate; to form an imposthume or abscess. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Imposthumated. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Imposthumated p. pr. & vb. n. Imposthumating ] To affect with an imposthume or abscess. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of forming an abscess; state of being inflamed; suppuration. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An abscess; an imposthume. Coxe. [ 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 ]

v. t. & i. Same as Imposthumate. [ 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.

Syn. -- Deceiver; cheat; rogue. See Deceiver. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The condition, character, or practice of an impostor. Milton.

{ } n. [ LL. impostrix. See Impostor. ] A woman who imposes upon or deceives others. [ R. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]