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. Clarendon.
5. A lesson to be learned; a task. Johnson.
Tax cart, a spring cart subject to a low tax.
Syn. — Impost; tribute; contribution; duty; toll; rate; assessment; exaction; custom; demand.