Wiktionary

compose

See also: composé

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English composen, from Old French composer (“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from com- poser, as an adaptation of Latin componere (“to put together, compose”), from com- (“together”) ponere (“to put, place”).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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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.
    • December 22 1678, Thomas Sprat, A Sermon Preached before the King at White-Hall
      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.
    • 1741, I[saac] Watts, The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC:
      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.
    • 1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6:
      Let me […] compose / Something in Verse as true as Prose.
    • 1838, Benjamin Haydon, Painting, and the fine arts:
      the genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper"
  5. (sometimes reflexive) To calm; to free from agitation.
    Try to compose your thoughts.
    The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.
    • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
      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, published 2011, page 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.
    • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
      In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
      How in safety best we may / Compose our present evils.
  9. (printing, dated) To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *tḱey- (0 c, 30 e)

Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

French

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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compose

  1. inflection of composer:
    1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
    2. second-person singular imperative

Italian

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Verb

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compose

  1. third-person singular past historic of comporre
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