Defn: An impossibility. [Obs.]
"Madam," quoth he, "this were an impossible!" Chaucer.
IMPOSSIBLY
Im*pos"si*bly, adv.
Defn: Not possibly. Sir. T. North.
IMPOST Im"post, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.
Note: 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. Etym: [See Imposthume.]