compose

To make something by merging parts.

Verb

  1. 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.
  2. 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:
  3. To comprise.
  4. 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.
    • It's difficult to compose without absolute silence.
  5. To calm; to free from agitation.
    • Try to compose your thoughts.
    • The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.
    • 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....
  6. To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
  7. 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:
  8. 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, […],...
    • 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...
  9. To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

Origin

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”).

Forms

composes composing composed

Synonyms

constitute form indite compose compound comprise make up represent upmake

Hyponyms

essentiate inorb

Related

composition

Derived

cocompose composability composable composer composing frame composing rule composing stick composite composition compositor composograph composure decompose discompose miscompose photocompose postcompose precompose recompose through-composed