compose
[kuh m-pohz]
- to make or form by combining things, parts, or elements: He composed his speech from many research notes.
- to be or constitute a part or element of: a rich sauce composed of many ingredients.
- to make up or form the basis of: Style composes the essence of good writing.
- to put or dispose in proper form or order: to compose laws into a coherent system.
- Art. to organize the parts or elements of (a picture or the like).
- to create (a musical, literary, or choreographic work).
- to end or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.): The union and management composed their differences.
- to bring (oneself, one's mind, etc.) to a condition of calmness, repose, etc.; calm; quiet.
- Printing.
- to set (type).
- to set type for (an article, book, etc.).
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- to engage in composition, especially musical composition.
- to enter into composition; fall into an arrangement: a scene that composes well.
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Origin of compose
Synonyms
See more synonyms for compose on Thesaurus.com8. settle, collect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for compose
Contemporary Examples
He then enlisted the help of New York City musician Carlo Nicolau to compose the music.
“One can no more write good English than one can compose good music by merely keeping to the rules,” he wrote.
But Google grumble grumble makes me compose new messages in a tiny window, you say.
After defense explained that it did not consider the document intelligence, Lind compose herself and let defense proceed.
The charge was to compose a story on it—a story that would justifiably appear on a napkin.
Historical Examples
In the nearer ranks we may discern the variety of ingredients that compose the mass.
Biographical SketchesNathaniel Hawthorne
It need hardly be said that in any case it was not Handel's practice to compose his works on an organ.
HandelEdward J. Dent
Little Dorrit was deeply anxious that he should lie down to compose himself.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Sometimes all the bells which compose a peal tell their various uses.
English VillagesP. H. Ditchfield
A proof of each of the songs that I compose or amend I shall receive as a favour.
The Letters of Robert BurnsRobert Burns
compose
- to put together or make up by combining; put in proper order
- to be the component elements of
- to produce or create (a musical or literary work)
- (intr) to write music
- to calm (someone, esp oneself); make quiet
- to adjust or settle (a quarrel, etc)
- to order the elements of (a painting, sculpture, etc); design
- printing to set up (type)
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Word Origin
C15: from Old French composer, from Latin compōnere to put in place; see component
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for compose
v.
c.1400, compousen, from Old French composer "put together, arrange, write" a work (12c.), from com- "with" (see com-) + poser "to place," from Late Latin pausare "to cease, lay down," ultimately from Latin ponere "to put, place" (see position (n.)). Meaning influenced in Old French by componere (see composite). Musical sense is from 1590s. Related: Composed; composing.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper