compose
verbUK /kəmˈpəʊz/ · CA, US /kəmˈpoʊz/
Etymology From Middle English composen, from Old French composer (“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from com- + poser, as an adaptation of Latin componere (“to put together, compose”), from com- (“together”) + ponere (“to put, place”).
9 senses
- 1To make something by merging parts.
- 2To make up the whole; to constitute.
- 3To comprise.
- 4To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly…
- 5To calm; to free from agitation.
- 6To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
- 7To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
- 8To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in…
- 9To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.
To make something by merging parts.
- The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.
- December 22 1678, Thomas Sprat, A Sermon Preached before the King at White-Hall Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection.
To make up the whole; to constitute.
- A church is composed of its members.
- A few useful things […] compose their intellectual possessions.1741, I[saac] Watts, The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC:
Nonstandard To comprise.
To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary or musical work.
- The orator composed his speech over the week prior.
- Nine numbered symphonies, including the Fifth, were composed by Beethoven.
3 more examples
- It's difficult to compose without absolute silence.
- Let me […] compose / Something in Verse as true as Prose.1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6:
- the genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper"1838, Benjamin Haydon, Painting, and the fine arts:
Sometimes To calm; to free from agitation.
- Try to compose your thoughts.
- The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.
1 more example
- Compose thy mind; / Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
- By trying his best to compose matters with the mullahs, he had sincerely shown that he did not seek a violent collision […]2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 280:
To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
- In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- How in safety best we may / Compose our present evils.1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Media, Printing, Publishing Dated To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.
- Derived terms
- cocompose, composability, composable, composer, composing frame, composing rule, composing stick, composite, composition, compositor, composograph, composure, decompose, discompose, miscompose, photocompose, postcompose, precompose, recompose, through-composed
- Related terms
- composition
- Hyponyms
- essentiate, inorb