To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form: an exhibit composed of French paintings; the many ethnic groups that compose our nation. See Usage Note at comprise.
To make or create by putting together parts or elements.
To create or produce (a literary or musical piece).
To make (oneself) calm or tranquil: Compose yourself and deal with the problems logically.
To settle or adjust; reconcile: They managed to compose their differences.
To arrange aesthetically or artistically.
Printing To arrange or set (type or matter to be printed).
v.
intr.
To create a literary or musical piece.
Printing To set type.
[Middle English composen, from Old French composer, alteration (influenced by poser, to put, place) of Latin compōnere; see component.]
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole; "harmonious composition is essential in a serious work of art" [syn: composition]
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.]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*pos"ing\, a. 1. Tending to compose or soothe. 2. Pertaining to, or used in, composition. Composing frame (Print.), a stand for holding cases of type when in use. Composing rule (Print.), a thin slip of brass or steel, against which the type is arranged in a composing stick, or by the aid of which stickfuls or handfuls or type are lifted; -- called also setting rule. Composing stick (Print.), an instrument usually of metal, which the compositor holds in his left hand, and in which he arranges the type in words and lines. It has one open side, and one adjustable end by means of which the length of the lines, and consequently the width of the page or column, may be determined.
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