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.]
1475, from O.Fr. composer "put together, arrange" (12c.), from com- "with" + poser "to place," from L.L. pausare "to cease, lay down," ult. from L. ponere "to put, place" (see position). Meaning infl. in O.Fr. by componere (see composite). Musical sense is from 1597. Composed "calm" is from 1621; composure first recorded 1667.
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).
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