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Webster 1913 Edition

Compose

Com-pose′

(kŏm-pōz′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Composed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Composing
.]
[F.
composer
;
com-
+
poser
to place. The sense is that of L.
componere
, but the origin is different. See
Pose
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion.
Zeal ought to be
composed
of the highest degrees of all pious affection.
Bp. Sprat.
2.
To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute.
Their borrowed gold
composed

The calf in Oreb.
Milton.
A few useful things . . .
compose
their intellectual possessions.
I. Watts.
3.
To construct by mental labor; to design and execute, or put together, in a manner involving the adaptation of forms of expression to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or proportion;
as, to
compose
a sentence, a sermon, a symphony, or a picture
.
Let me
compose

Something in verse as well as prose.
Pope.
The genius that
composed
such works as the “Standard” and “Last Supper”.
B. R. Haydon.
4.
To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
In a peaceful grave my corpse
compose
.
Dryden.
How in safety best we may
Compose
our present evils.
Milton.
5.
To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet.
Compose
thy mind;
Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
Dryden.
6.
(Print.)
To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type).

Com-pose′

,
Verb.
I.
To come to terms.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Compose

COMPOSE

,
Verb.
T.
s as z. Literally, to place or set together. Hence,
1.
To form a compound, or one entire body or thing, by uniting two or more things, parts, or individuals; as, to compose an army of raw soldiers; the parliament of G. Britain is composed of two houses, lords and commons; the senate of the United States is composed of two senators from each state.
Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affections.
2.
To invent and put together words and sentences; to make, as a discourse or writing; to write, as an author; as, to compose a sermon, or a book.
3.
To constitute, or form, as parts of a whole; as, letters compose syllables, syllables compose words, words compose sentences.
A few useful things, confounded with many trifles, fill their memories, and compose their intellectual possessions.
4.
To calm; to quiet; to appease; to tranquilize; that is, to set or lay; as, to compose passions, fears, disorders, or whatever is agitated or excited.
5.
To settle; to adjust; as, to compose differences.
6.
To place in proper form, or in a quiet state.
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
7.
To settle into a quiet state.
The sea composes itself to a level surface. It requires about two days to compose it after a gale.
8.
To dispose; to put in a proper state for any purpose.
The army seemed will composed to obtain that by their swords which they could not by their pen.
9.
In printing, to set types or characters in a composing stick, from a copy, arranging the letters in the proper order.
10.
In music, to form a tune or piece of music with notes, arranging them on the stave in such a manner as when sung to produce harmony.

Definition 2024

compose

compose

See also: composé

English

Verb

compose ‎(third-person singular simple present composes, present participle composing, simple past and past participle composed)

  1. (transitive) To make something by merging parts. [from later 15th c.]
    The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.
    Try to compose your thoughts.
    • Bishop Sprat
      Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection.
  2. (transitive) To make up the whole; to constitute.
    A church is composed of its members.
    • I. Watts
      A few useful things […] compose their intellectual possessions.
  3. (transitive, nonstandard) To comprise.
  4. (transitive or intransitive) 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.
    • Alexander Pope
      Let me compose / Something in verse as well as prose.
    • B. R. Haydon
      the genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper"
  5. (sometimes reflexive) To calm; to free from agitation.
    The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.
    • Dryden
      Compose thy mind; / Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
  6. To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
  7. To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
    • 2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic 2011, p. 280:
      By trying his best to compose matters with the mullahs, he had sincerely shown that he did not seek a violent collision […]
  8. To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
    • Dryden
      In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
    • Milton
      How in safety best we may / Compose our present evils.
  9. (printing, dated) To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

French

Verb

compose

  1. first-person singular present indicative of composer
  2. third-person singular present indicative of composer
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of composer
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of composer
  5. second-person singular imperative of composer

Italian

Verb

compose

  1. third-person singular past historic of comporre

Etymology

From Old French composer ‎(“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from Latin componere ‎(“to put together, compose”), from com- ‎(“together”) + ponere ‎(“to put, place”)

Pronunciation

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