imposition

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe act of imposing, laying on, affixing, enjoining, inflicting, obtruding, and the like.

   Synonyms: imposure, infliction, obtrusion

2. countableuncountableAn unwelcome burden, presence, or obligation.

   He expunges his own anguish at his diagnosis with HIV and the impositions that have claimed his freedom.

   1991 May 4, Mary Dowd, “Risky Business”, in Gay Community News, page 7

   1 more example

   They gathered soberly in the farthest recess of the ward and gossiped about him in malicious, offended undertones, rebelling against his presence as a ghastly imposition and resenting him malevolently for the nauseating truth of which he was bright reminder.

   1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 169

3. countableuncountableThat which is imposed, levied, or enjoined.

   Synonyms: burden, charge, enjoinder, injunction, tax

In a sentence

They gathered soberly in the farthest recess of the ward and gossiped about him in malicious, offended undertones, rebelling against his presence as a ghastly imposition and resenting him malevolently for the nauseating truth of which he was bright reminder.

1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 169

Where it comes from

1. Latinimpositio
2. Old Frenchimposicion
3. Middle Englishimposicioun
4. Englishimposition

From Middle English imposicioun, from Old French imposicion, from Latin impositio.