Compose v.

[a. F. compose-r (12th c. in Littré), f. com- together + poser to place, put down:—Romanic posare = late L. pausāre to cease, lie down, lay down, etc.: see POSE, REPOSE. Through form-association with inflections of L. pōnĕre, posui, pa. pple. positum, postum, It. posto, OF. post, pos, and contact of sense, this -poser came to be treated as a synonym of OF. -pondre, and finally took its place in the compounds, so that composer to compose is now used instead of compondre to compone, compound, and naturally associated with compositor, composition, compost, etc., with which it has no connection in origin.]

  I.  To put together, make up.

  † 1.  trans. To make by putting together parts or elements: to make up, form, frame, fashion, construct, produce. Obs. exc. in the special senses below.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., I. xiii. 39. He [God] is the very Astronomyer … as he hym self that composed astronomye. Ibid. (1485), Chas. Gt., 12. He dyd compose & do edyfye a cyte.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 35. England had … the arte to compose suche kynde of delicate Cloothe of golde, as Europe had not the lyke.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. ii. 170. His Helme: Were it a Caske compos’d by Vulcan’s skill, My Sword should bite it.

1691.  T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., 127. The Art of … composing a Ship, not out of one but several thousand pieces of Wood and Iron.

1788.  Reid, Aristotle’s Log., i. § 1. 2. He [Aristotle] was the first we know, says Strabo, who composed a library.

  † b.  To fashion, frame (the human body, etc.); esp. in comp. as well-composed, well put together, well-built. Obs.

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, ii. 15. His sone yolus … was soo fayr and so welle composed.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, I. ii. 21. Franke Nature rather curious then in hast Hath well compos’d thee.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, Cant. vii. 4. Thy nose … is perfectly composed, and featured.

1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. vi. 195. Callipygæ and women largely composed behinde.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 110.

1676.  D’Urfey, Mad. Fickle, III. ii. So handsome, so well compos’d a man.

  † 2.  To compound or mix (with). Obs.

1475.  Caxton, Jason, 52. Beuurages and drynkes sumptuous composed with spices.

  3.  Predicated of the elements; To constitute, make up; to be the constituents or material of.

  This construction seems to have come in as 1 became obsolete.

1665.  R. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xii. (1675), 240. Now that the sun has … elevated this Water in the form of Vapours … we see it Composes a Cloud.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 483. Nor did Israel scape Th’ infection when their borrow’d Gold compos’d The Calf in Oreb.

1692.  Dryden, St. Evremont’s Ess., 126. Insinuations, complaisance, and all those curious measures which compose the Art of winning hearts.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. i. 24. See worlds on worlds compose one universe.

1743.  Fielding, J. Wild, I. v. The same endowments have often composed the statesman and the Prig.

1799.  Scotl. Described (ed. 2), 15. Granite, schistus, sandstone … usually compose the strata of its rocks.

1875.  Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., viii. (ed. 5), 122. The five or six great tribes or tribe-leagues which composed the German nation.

  4.  pass. To be made up, formed, compounded of (a material, or constituent elements); to be constituted; to consist of.

  Originally, and still in form, the passive of 1, the agent being left unexpressed. But now, practically, the passive of 3: the persons who compose a crowd are those of whom the crowd is composed.

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Cyrurg. The bladder … is composed of pannycles.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 257. He is compos’d and fram’d of treacherie.

1642.  R. Carpenter, Experience, II. xi. 208. Every man is composed of a man and a beast.

1678.  Sprat, Serm., Gal. vi. 18, 19. In the Heart Zele ought to be composed of the highest Degrees of all pious Affections: of which some in their own Nature are milder, and gentler; some sharper, and more vehement.

a. 1774.  Goldsm., Exper. Philos. (1776), I. 18. Every part of nature is composed from similar materials.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 91. If an assembly is viciously or feebly composed in a very great part of it.

1856.  Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. iv. 111. The spinal chord is composed of the same materials as the brain.

1857.  Buckle, Civiliz., I. xii. 657. A government composed of princes and bishops.

1875.  Jevons, Money (1878), 44. The first British currency was composed of tin.

  5.  spec. To construct (in words); to make or produce in literary form, to write as author.

  Formerly often = compile; now chiefly restricted to poetry, essays, or the like, in which original literary workmanship is the predominant feature. Write is commonly used of any treatise of which narrative, description, or discussion is the main purpose; but it is a lighter substitute for compose, even in reference to finished works of literary art.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, 3. A short and prouffitable doctryne … the which is taken and composed upon the said book of Cathon. Ibid. (1489), Faytes of A., I. i. 3. Whiche he had composed and made in a boke.

1599.  Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 69. The Letter of Cupide, and the ballade … whiche Chaucer never composed.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., III. xxxvi. 225. Poets … that composed Hymnes and other sorts of Poems.

1667.  Primatt (title), The City and County Purchaser and Builder. Composed by S. P. Gent.

1722.  Sewell, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. p. iv. I was induced to compose an history.

1814.  Wordsw., Pref. Excursion. A determination to compose a philosophical poem.

1832.  Southey, Penins. War, III. 556. The printed authorities from which the present history has been composed.

1876.  J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. 262. In the last year of his life he [Cicero] composed at least eight of his philosophical works.

  b.  absol.

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. i. Yonder’s Horace … I think he be composing as he goes in the street.

1766.  Johnson, in Boswell, Feb. When composing, I have generally had them [verses] in my mind, perhaps fifty at a time, walking up and down in my room: and then I have written them down.

1785.  Crabbe, Newspaper, Wks. 1834, II. 137.

1818.  Parr, Wks. (1828), VIII. 646. It is always easier to criticize than to compose.

1869.  J. E. T. Rogers, Pref. A. Smith’s W. N., 25. It is said that he composed with difficulty, and always with the services of an amanuensis.

  6.  Music. To invent and put into proper form.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 182. Being inioyned to make a song, [he] wil do it so simplie as one would thinke a scholler of one yeares practise might easily compose a better.

1706.  Farquhar, Recr. Officer, Epil. This piece of music … was composed by a famous Italian master.

1795.  Mason, Ch. Mus., ii. 93, note. King Henry composed a Motett beginning Quam Pulchra es.

1882.  Shorthouse, J. Inglesant, xxii. He composed pieces for a single voice with accompaniment for Violins.

  b.  To set to music; to write music to.

[1661–2.  Pepys, Diary, 11 Feb. At night begun to compose songs, and begin with ‘Gaze not on swans’].

1691.  Dryden, Albion & Alb., Pref. The English … are not … so musical as the French, yet they have been pleas’d already with the Tempest [an opera], and some Pieces that follow’d, which were neither much better written, nor so well compos’d as this.

1841.  B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life (1879), II. i. 22. In the wish to find something Italian to compose.

1878.  A. Roffe, Handbk. Shaks. Mus., 27. These four lines of Hamlet have been composed by Mr. M. P. King in the form of the unaccompanied glee for three voices.

  c.  absol.

1694.  W. Holder, Harmony (1731), 60. Not intending to treat of Composing.

1849.  Marryat, Valerie, xi. He is very talented, very musical, composes well.

1863.  Ouseley, in Guardian, 18 Nov., 1082/2. Now it became for the first time possible to compose in the true sense of that term. No longer was music simply an enhancing adjunct to words.

  7.  Print. To put together (types) so as to form words and blocks of words; to set up (type); to set up (an article, a page) in type; also absol.

1637.  Decree of Star Chamb., § 24. If any person … that is not allowed Printer … shall worke at any such Presse, or Set, or Compose any Letters to bee wrought by any such Presse.

1708.  Hearne, Collect., 11 April, II. 102. They had 15 shillings per sheet for composing Pliny’s Epistles.

1721.  R. Procl., 11 June, in Lond. Gaz., No. 5963/1. An Assistant to … Nathaniel Mist in composing for the Press.

1791.  Boswell, Johnson, an. 1784. The compositor was Mr. Manning … who had composed about one half of his ‘Dictionary.’

1882.  Blades, Caxton, 108. The author procured … a fount of their Caxton types in pure lead, and composed a page of Caxton’s ‘Chess Book.’

  8.  To put together (parts or elements) so as to make up a whole; spec. in artistic use, To arrange artistically the elements of a landscape or painting.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701). Where matter was put into those Figures by God … at last he reduced it to order, each being conjoined to one another and composed in due Proportion.

1659.  T. Willsford, Archit., 27. Panes of glass (composed in Diamond cut).

1782.  Gilpin, Wye (1789), 59. Shrubs artfully composed may have their elegance and beauty.

1828.  Steuart, Planter’s G., 298. With … taste and judgment, Bushes and stools of Copse-wood may be thus composed … naturally and beautifully.

1849.  Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, iv. § 26. 115. Symmetry without proportion is not composition. To compose is to arrange unequal things.

  b.  intr. (for refl.) To enter into composition; to admit of artistic grouping.

1828.  Elmes, Metr. Improv., 45. The house … composes well with the adjoining mansions and small plantations.

  c.  trans. To construct artistically. (Cf. 5, 6.)

1663.  [see COMPOSING vbl. sb.].

1845.  Stocqueler, Handbk. Brit. India (1854), 149. The plan was not copied from any other edifice, but was composed expressly for the purpose mentioned.

  II.  To arrange a dispute, conflict of claims, etc.

  9.  trans. To settle, adjust, arrange.

  a.  discord or dissension. a dispute, difference, quarrel, war, disturbance, disorder, etc.

1563–87.  Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 242. The controversie ceased and composed betweene these two, Otho the Cardinall … beginneth his sermon.

a. 1600.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VIII. vii. § 6. To compose the strife between him and his competitor.

1728.  Newton, Chronol. Amended, ii. 234. This war was at length composed by the intervention of Mercury.

1762.  Hume, Hist. Eng., I. ix. 198. The king, with some difficulty, composed this difference.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), III. xiv. 206. For the present the tumult was composed.

  b.  contending or rebellious persons, a disturbed district.

1594.  [see COMPOSING vbl. sb.].

1612.  T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 6. What a stirre had Abraham to compose Sarah and Hagar to peace.

1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. iv. § 39. It is hard so to compose two Swarms of Bees in one Hive, but that they will fall out and fight.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xix. 316. Labienus, with four legions, was sent to compose the country between Sens and Paris.

  10.  To arrange (any matter) properly or successfully; to settle.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 70. That matter was sone composed by the king of England.

a. 1619.  Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 96. [He] then goes … and composes this businesse with the King of France.

1878.  Tennyson, Q. Mary, I. v. 37. It then remains … to compose the event [Mary’s marriage] In some such form as least may harm your Grace.

  b.  absol. To come to a composition or settlement.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. ii. 15. If we compose well heere, to Parthia.

  † 11.  intr. ? To make composition, to compound (for anything). Obs.

1605.  Verstegan, Dec. Intell., vi. (1628), 179. Such as had the good fortune to keep or compose for their owne liuelyhoods.

  III.  To adjust the body or mind to any attitude, esp. that of repose; to calm or quiet disturbance.

  [The later development has here app. been influenced by association with the cognate REPOSE, which retains much more of the original sense of pausāre; in senses 15–17, esp., to compose is to adjust to a state of repose.]

  12.  trans. To give some arrangement, attitude, or adjustment to; to ‘make up’ in a specified or understood way, or artificially. To compose oneself: to adopt an attitude, to dispose one’s body, or features, in an appropriate manner.

1606.  Holland, Sueton., 146. Composing and dressing it [his face] at a looking-glasse … all manner of waies to seem more terrible.

1644.  Bulwer, Chirol., 180. The stroake inflicted with the Hand thus composed, hath from antiquity … the name of Condyl.

1673.  Rules of Civility, vii. 77. Composing ourselves with as much modesty as we may.

1673.  S. C., Art of Complaisance, i. 7. Without feeling any of your passions, they [Comædians] appear more affected then your self, and never fail to compose their countenances according to yours.

1691.  Ray, Creation, I. (1704), 90. How doth it [Water] exactly compose itself to a level or equal Superficies.

1859.  Thackeray, Virgin., xvii. She … would have taken care to study and compose a face so as to be ready to suit the plea.

  13.  To address or dispose (esp. the mind, oneself) calmly and collectedly to or for an action or state, or to do something; ‘to adjust the mind to any business by freeing it from disturbance’ (J.).

1614.  Bp. Hall, Contempl. O. T., VIII. 1108. That he may the more easily compose himselfe to resist [Satan’s onsets].

1650.  Howell, Masaniello, I. 107. To sound the Shop Keepers, and compose them to see their slavery.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XII. 596. Her also I … have calm’d … and all her spirits compos’d To meek submission.

1716–8.  Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xvi. 53. Tired with fear and fatigue, it was not possible for me to compose myself to write.

1794.  Southey, Wat Tyler, III. i. I would fain compose my thoughts for action.

  † b.  intr. (for refl.) Obs.

1663.  J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 331. They tend to detain people always in a gazing and expecting posture, so that they compose not to the work and duty of the day.

  c.  In compose oneself to sleep there is a blending with following senses.

1709.  Steele & Addison, Tatler, No. 160, ¶ 2. It was impossible for me to compose my self to sleep after two such unexpected Alarms.

1877.  Lady Brassey, Voy. Sunbeam, xxi. The children … composed themselves in the deck-house to sleep for the remainder of the night.

  † 14.  To put in the proper state (for any purpose); to dispose, to order. Obs.

1614.  Speed, Theatre Gt. Brit., Pref. How the Lord composed my minde for the worke.

a. 1674.  Clarendon, Hist., VIII. (J.). The whole army seemed well composed to obtain that by their swords, which they could not by their pen.

  15.  To set in proper order, or in a position of rest; to arrange, adjust; e.g., to set (the body) in the posture of sleep or repose. To compose one’s countenance: to adjust the features so that they express no emotion. (Cf. COMPOSED 4.)

1700.  Dryden, Pal. & Arcite, III. 434. At length in sleep their bodies they compose.

1756.  Burke, Subl. & B., IV. xix. The whole body is composed, and the hands fall idly to the sides.

1784.  Cowper, Task, II. 446. First we stroke An eyebrow, next compose a straggling lock.

1813.  Scott, Rokeby, I. ii. Ere sleep [his] senses tied, Oft had he changed his weary side, Composed his limbs.

1859.  Thackeray, Virgin., ix. He tried to compose his countenance as well as he could: it was impossible that he should explain to his hostess … why he was angry.

  b.  To lay out (a dead body).

a. 1677.  Barrow, 2nd Serm., Rom. xii. 18, Wks. 1716, I. 290. The great Pompey, the glorious triumpher over nations, and admired darling of fortune, was beholden at last to a slave for the composing his ashes, and celebrating his funeral obsequies.

1697.  Dryden, Æneid, VI. 498. And in a peaceful grave my corps compose.

1717.  Pope, Elegy Unfort. Lady, 52. By foreign hands thy decent limbs compos’d.

1814.  Southey, Roderick, II. No Christian hands Were here who should compose his decent corpse.

  † c.  fig. To make seemly and orderly (in manners, behavior, etc.). Obs.

1626.  Donne, Serm. on Ps. lxv. 5. By Composing our manners and rectifying our Life and Conversation.

1655–60.  Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 186. One … who took more care to frame an Oration, than to compose his Life.

  16.  To make calm or quiet (a physical disturbance, noise, etc.).

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 207. The windes fauourable, and the seas composed.

a. 1721.  Prior, The Dove, 93. To compose this midnight noise.

1695.  Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, III. (1723), 154. They [the Ancients] likewise believed that he [Neptune], having a full Sway and Command over the Water, had Power to still and compose it, as well as to move and disturb it, and the Earth by means of it.

  17.  To calm, pacify, tranquilize (the thoughts, spirits, emotions). Freq. refl. and passive.

1607.  Dekker, Whore Babylon, Wks. 1873, II. 265. Contract thy spirits togither, be compos’d.

1688.  Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, V. If you are not quiet, you shall never see her more … I’ll strive to compose myself.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. xviii. He said … kind things to me, to compose and bring me to myself.

1784.  Cowper, Task, III. 305. Reflections such as … Compose the passions, and exalt the mind.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xxxiv. I heard him ask her to compose herself, for what a situation it was if anybody should come.

1873.  Mrs. Oliphant, Innocent, II. i. 20. For Heaven’s sake, Amanda, compose yourself—Do you want to make a scene?

  b.  To tranquilize through the senses or nerves.

1744.  Berkeley, Siris, § 86. I have known tar-water procure sleep and compose the spirits in cruel vigils.

1860–1.  Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 34. A good nurse can apply hot bottles to the feet … hour by hour, without disturbing, but rather composing the patient.