[kuh
m-prahyz] 
| 1. | to include or contain: The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics. |
| 2. | to consist of; be composed of: The advisory board comprises six members. |
| 3. | to form or constitute: Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities. |
| 4. | be comprised of, to consist of; be composed of: The sales network is comprised of independent outlets and chain stores. |
” (The United States of America comprises 50 states), comprise has had since the late 18th century the meaning “to form or constitute” (Fifty states comprise the United States of America). Since the late 19th century it has also been used in passive constructions with a sense synonymous with that of one of its original meanings “to consist of, be composed of”: The United States of America is comprised of 50 states. These later uses are often criticized, but they occur with increasing frequency even in formal speech and writing.| com·prise (kəm-prīz') tr.v. com·prised, com·pris·ing, com·pris·es
[Middle English comprisen, from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre, to include, from Latin comprehendere, comprēndere; see comprehend.] com·pris'a·ble adj. Usage Note: The traditional rule states that the whole comprises the parts and the parts compose the whole. In strict usage: The Union comprises 50 states. Fifty states compose (or constitute or make up) the Union. Even though careful writers often maintain this distinction, comprise is increasingly used in place of compose, especially in the passive: The Union is comprised of 50 states. Our surveys show that opposition to this usage is abating. In the 1960s, 53 percent of the Usage Panel found this usage unacceptable; in 1996, only 35 percent objected. See Usage Note at include. |
