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Levy vs Impost - What's the difference?

levy | impost |

Impost is a synonym of levy.



As nouns the difference between levy and impost

is that levy is the act of levying while impost is a tax, tariff or duty that is imposed, especially on merchandise.

As a verb levy

is to impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property.

levy

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) leve'', from (etyl) ''levee'', from ''lever "to raise".

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property
  • to levy a tax
  • To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority.
  • * Shakespeare
  • If they do this my ransom, then, / Will soon be levied .
  • To draft someone into military service
  • To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrolment, conscription. etc.
  • * Fuller
  • Augustine inflamed Ethelbert, king of Kent, to levy his power, and to war against them.
  • To wage war
  • To raise, as a siege.
  • (Holland)
  • (legal) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast up.
  • to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc.
    (Cowell)

    Noun

    (levies)
  • The act of levying.
  • * Thirlwall
  • A levy of all the men left under sixty.
  • The tax, property or people so levied.
  • * Macaulay
  • The Irish levies .

    Etymology 2

    Contraction of elevenpence.

    Noun

    (levies)
  • (US, obsolete, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia) The Spanish real of one eighth of a dollar, valued at elevenpence when the dollar was rated at seven shillings and sixpence.
  • See also

    * levee * Levi ----

    impost

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) impost, from (etyl) impositus, past participle of .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A tax, tariff or duty that is imposed, especially on merchandise.
  • * 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 56:
  • New universal direct taxes had to be introduced [...], while the burden of indirect taxes was also made heavier, with new imposts being levied on an ensemble of items ranging from playing cards to wigs.
  • The top member of a pillar, pier, wall, etc., upon which the weight of an arch rests.
  • (horse racing, slang) The weight that must be carried by a horse in a race, the handicap.
  • See also

    * imposter, impostor, impose

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) imposta, from (etyl) imposta

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The top part of a column or pillar that supports an arch.