Tax (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Taxed (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Taxing.]
[Cf. F. taxer. See Tax, n.]
1. To subject to the payment of a tax or taxes; to impose a tax
upon; to lay
a burden upon; especially, to exact money from for the support of government.
We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride, and folly than we
are taxed by government.
Franklin. 2. (Law) To assess, fix, or determine judicially, the amount of; as,
to tax the cost of an action in
court.
3. To charge; to
accuse; also, to censure; -- often followed by with, rarely by of before an indirect object; as, to tax
a man with pride.
I
tax you, you elements, with
unkindness.
Shak. Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their
crimes.
Dryden. Fear not now
that men should tax thine honor.
M. Arnold.
Tax (?), n. [F. taxe, fr. taxer to tax, L.
taxare to touch, sharply, to feel, handle, to censure, value, estimate, fr.
tangere, tactum, to touch. See Tangent, and cf. Task, Taste.]
1. A charge, especially a pecuniary burden which is imposed by authority. Specifically: --
(a) A charge or burden laid upon persons or property for the support of a government.
A farmer of
taxes is, of all creditors, proverbially
the most rapacious.
Macaulay.
(b) Especially, the sum laid upon
specific things, as upon polls, lands, houses, income, etc.; as, a land tax; a window tax; a tax on
carriages, and the like. Taxes are annual or perpetual, direct or indirect, etc.
(c) A sum imposed or levied upon the members of a society
to defray its expenses.
2. A task exacted from one who
is under control; a contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed upon a subject.
3. A disagreeable or burdensome duty or charge; as, a
heavy tax on time or health.
4. Charge; censure. [Obs.]
Clarendon.
5.
A lesson to be learned; a task. [Obs.] Johnson.
Tax cart, a spring cart
subject to a low tax.
[Eng.]
Syn. -- Impost; tribute; contribution; duty; toll; rate; assessment; exaction; custom; demand.
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