"act of willfully deceiving others," 1530s, from French imposture or directly from Late Latin impostura "deceit," from impostus (see impost (n.)). Related: Imposturous.
Entries linking to imposture
impost n.
"tax, duty," 1560s, from French impost (15c., Modern French impôt), from Medieval Latin impostum "a tax imposed," noun use of neuter of Latin impostus, contracted form of impositus, past participle of imponere "to place upon, impose upon" (see impostor). Compare depot. As an architectural term, 1660s, from French imposte (16c.), from Italian imposta, from the same Latin source.