tax

¹tax

verb \ˈtaks\

Definition of TAX

transitive verb

1

: to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs in a court action)

2

: to levy a tax on

3

obsolete : to enter (a name) in a list <there went out a decree … that all the world should be taxed — Luke 2:1(Authorized Version)>

4

: charge, accuse <taxed him with neglect of duty>; also : censure

5

: to make onerous and rigorous demands on <the job taxed her strength>

— tax·able \ˈtak-sə-bəl\ adjective

— tax·er noun

Examples of TAX

1. He believes in taxing the rich to give to the poor.
2. You are taxed according to your income.
3. puzzles that tax your brain

Origin of TAX

Middle English, to estimate, assess, tax, from Anglo-French taxer, from Medieval Latin taxare, from Latin, to feel, estimate, censure, frequentative of tangere to touch — more at tangent

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TAX

Synonyms: strain, stretch, try, test

Related Words: demand, exact, importune, press, pressure, push; aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get (to), gnaw (at), grate, harass, harry, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, pain, peeve, pester, rile, spite, vex

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Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

Rhymes with TAX

ax, fax, flax, lax, max, pax, rax, sax, Sfax, wax