Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French composer, from Latin componere ; more at COMPOUND
Pronunciation : k&m-pOz
Function : verb
Date : 15th century
1. create, write; arrange; calm oneself; settle. compose\com*pose"\ , v. 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, v. t.].
2. 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. sprat.
3. to form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute. their borrowed gold composed the calf in oreb. a few useful things compose their intellectual possessions. watts.
4. 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. the genius that composed such works as the "standard" and "last supper". r. haydon.
5. 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. how in safety best we may compose our present evils.
6. 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.
7. (print.) to arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type).compose \com*pose"\, v. i. to come to terms. [obs.]compose v.
8. form the substance of; "greed and ambition composed his personality.
9. write music; "beethoven composed nine symphonies" [syn: write].
10. produce a literary work; "she composed a poem"; "he wrote four novels" [syn: write, pen, indite].
11. put together out of existing material; "compile a list" [syn: compile].
12. calm (someone, esp. oneself); make quiet; "she had to compose herself before she could reply to this terrible insult".
13. draw up the plans or basic details for; "frame a policy" [syn: frame, outline, draw up].
14. To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion.
15. To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute.
16. 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.
17. To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
18. To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet.
19. To arrange in a composing stick in order for printing; to set.
20. To come to terms. put together out of existing material; "compile a list" write music; "Beethoven composed nine symphonies" calm ; make quiet; "She had to compose herself before she could reply to this terrible insult" form the substance of; "Greed and ambition composed his personality".
21. 1. The things that something is composed of are its parts or members. The separate things that compose something are the parts or members that form it. The force would be composed of troops from NATO countries Protein molecules compose all the complex working parts of living cells They agreed to form a council composed of leaders of the rival factions. = make up.
22. When someone composes a piece of music, they write it. Vivaldi composed a large number of very fine concertos Cale also uses electronic keyboards to compose.
23. If you compose something such as a letter, poem, or speech, you write it, often using a lot of concentration or skill. He started at once to compose a reply to Anna The document composed in Philadelphia transformed the confederation of sovereign states into a national government.
24. If you compose yourself or if you compose your features, you succeed in becoming calm after you have been angry, excited, or upset. She quickly composed herself as the car started off Then he composed his features, took Godwin's hand awkwardly and began to usher him from the office.