Etymograph

English

impose

Impose comes from Middle French imposer, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- ‘to cultivate’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tḱey-‘to cultivate’root as named · steps between not traced
  2. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600imposer
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500imposen‘to place, set’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1568impose

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tḱey-‘to cultivate’root as named · steps between not traced
  2. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600imposer
  3. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500imposen‘to place, set’
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1568impose

Earliest quotation: 1568, Anthony of Gueuara [i.e., What Maners and Gestures Beecome the Courtier when Hee Speak: “[T]he courtier that proceeds in his matters, rather with…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- ‘to cultivate’

site, situation, post, position, positive, homeless, purpose, opponent, suppose, compound, hamlet, consolation, bohemian, propose, expose, repository, proponent, homely, dispose, exponent, compose, situate, expound, posit, hame, situs, pone, 69 more

Today it means

verb To physically lay or place (something) on another thing; to deposit, to put, to set.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- / impose

Shirt and support for this word