imposture en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ɪmˈpɒstjʊə(ɹ)/
- /ɪmˈpɒst͡ʃə(ɹ)/
Etymology
From Middle French imposture, from Late Latin impostura, Latin impostus.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) The act or conduct of an impostor; deception practiced under a false or assumed character; fraud or imposition.
"I thought that you were a genuine mathematician—I vouched for it," replied Sir Fergus with more regret than anything else. "And the extent of your achievement has been to contrive a vulgar imposture—in the guise of an ingenious inventor to swindle society by a sham automaton that doesn't even work."
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:There is something very horrible in the laugh of a dying man: Hovering on the verge of both worlds, he seems to give the lie to both, and proclaim the enjoyments of one, and the hopes of another, alike an imposture.
1820, [Charles Robert Maturin], Melmoth the Wanderer: A Tale. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Company, and Hurst, Robinson, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 292:Among an unenlightened people every impoſture is likely to take place, for ignorance is the parent of credulity.
1774, [Oliver] Goldsmith, “Of the Earliest State of Greece”, in The Grecian History, from the Earliest State to the Death of Alexander the Great, volume I, London: […] J[ohn] and F[rancis] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| impostures | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (15)
pl mistyfikacja (act or conduct of an impostor) · pt impostura (act or conduct of an impostor) · es impostura (act or conduct of an impostor) · bg измама (act or conduct of an impostor) · eo trompaĵo (act or conduct of an impostor) · nl oplichterij (act or conduct of an impostor) · it impostura (act or conduct of an impostor) · ru надува́тельство (act or conduct of an impostor) · pl oszustwo (act or conduct of an impostor) · fi toiseksi tekeytyminen (act or conduct of an impostor) · pl samozwaństwo (act or conduct of an impostor) · bg мошеничество (act or conduct of an impostor) · fr imposture (act or conduct of an impostor) · ro impostură (act or conduct of an impostor) · ca impostura (act or conduct of an impostor)