comprise
[kuh m-prahyz]
- to include or contain: The Soviet Union comprised several socialist republics.
- to consist of; be composed of: The advisory board comprises six members.
- to form or constitute: Seminars and lectures comprised the day's activities.
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- be comprised of, to consist of; be composed of: The sales network is comprised of independent outlets and chain stores.
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Origin of comprise
1400–50; late Middle English comprisen < Middle French compris (past participle of comprendre) < Latin comprehēnsus; see comprehension
Synonyms
See more synonyms for comprise on Thesaurus.com1. See include.
Usage note
Comprise has had an interesting history of sense development. In addition to its original senses, dating from the 15th century, “to include” and “to consist of ” ( 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for comprised
Contemporary Examples
According to data stretching from 1999 to 2011, African Americans have comprised 26 percent of all police-shooting victims.
The Coalition is comprised of labor unions, anti-war activists, clergy, and so-called black empowerment groups.
As Michael Brown Grand Jury Winds Down, Is Ferguson on the Brink of War?Ron Christie
November 16, 2014
The crowd at the matinee showing I went to of Of Mice and Men was comprised of many young kids—mostly female.
James Franco Uncensored: The Actor on Broadway, NYT Hate, and That Half-Naked InstagramMarlow Stern
May 4, 2014
After all, the small congregation— about 40 strong —is comprised almost entirely of the Phelps brood.
Sometimes known as telephony metadata, this information is comprised of the time, duration and number dialed of a phone number.
Historical Examples
The substance of a lady's letter, it has been said, always is comprised in the postscript.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Andree, it should be said, was comprised in Ambroise's universal conquest.
FruitfulnessEmile Zola
Books on Archery, Fencing, and Duelling are also comprised by this heading.
The Book-Hunter at HomeP. B. M. Allan
All those not comprised in the foregoing are at liberty to serve as Volunteers.
The Philippine IslandsJohn Foreman
The law of my being is comprised in the one word—Nunc—the will of the Law be done!'
The Child of PleasureGabriele D'Annunzio
comprise
- to include; contain
- to constitute the whole of; consist ofher singing comprised the entertainment
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Word Origin
C15: from French compris included, understood, from comprendre to comprehend
usage
The use of of after comprise should be avoided: the library comprises (not comprises of) 500 000 books and manuscripts
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for comprised
comprise
v.
early 15c., "to include," from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre "to contain, comprise" (12c.), from Latin comprehendere (see comprehend). Related: Comprised; comprising.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper