Tax \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.

Note: 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Tax \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)