ppl. a. [f. COMPOSE v. + -ED1.]
† 1. Made up of parts; compound; composite.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, VII. xiv. 186. A number composed, is that which some one number measureth.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., viii. (1628), 242. Proper names beeing made of composed words.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., ix. 392. It congealeth in huge … stones … like to the composed Cinders of a Smithes Forge.
1662. J. Chandler, Van Helmont’s Oriat., 97. This is the simple body of an Element; but, that is a composed body.
1728. R. Morris, Ess. Anc. Archit., 54. The compos’d Order.
1801. trans. Klaproth’s Ess., I. i. If a composed one, to know the parts of which it is composed.
b. Complicated, compounded. Obs.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Formul., ii. S iv b. Woundes composed after the intencion of Galyen aforesayde. Ibid., T i. The woundes are sometyme composed with vnnatural mater … and fraudelent venymous fylthynes.
† 2. Elaborately or well put together. Obs.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. ii. 69. Walefull Sonnets, whose composed Rimes Should be full fraught with seruiceable vowes.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 22. A composed and elaborate Design will answer … better than one that is altogether plain and ordinary. Ibid., 63. A Bowling-green still more composed, and finer.
† 3. Constituted, settled, established, confirmed.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 360/4. This holy vyrgyne … was so composed in alle good maners.
4. Of the face, bearing, etc.: Made calm or tranquil; properly adjusted, undisturbed by emotion; expressive of gravity or self-possession.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. (1842), 67. A personage of so composed a presence, that nature and fortune had done him wrong if they had not made him a souldier.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., liv. (Arb.), 76. A man … Of a compos’d and setled countenance.
1705. Addison, Italy, 46. In Spain … there is something still more serious and compos’d in the manner of the Inhabitants.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng. (1861), V. 117. That stern and composed face.
† b. Artificially ‘made up’ or adjusted. Obs.
1627. Lisander & Cal., V. 80. His countenance was not composed but naturall and without art.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. xviii. 97. Officers … with bended knees and a composed countenance, offered their respectful homage.
5. Having one’s feelings or passions under control; calm and self-possessed, tranquil. The opposite of excited, distracted.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. II. v. He that will intend to take his rest must go to bed … with a secure and composed mind.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., iv. 104. Such calm and serene ideas of truth, that shine only in composed souls.
1724. Pope, Epit. Mrs. Corbet, 7. So unaffected, so composed a mind. Ibid. (1727), Epit. R. Digby, 3. Compos’d in suff’rings and in joy sedate.
1829. Scott, Tales Grandf. (1841), Ser. III. lxxxv. 453/1. Lord Kilmarnock was composed, though penitent, and prepared himself … for the terrible exit.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., xiii. 103. When you are at home you will be more composed.
6. Her. a. = COMPONÉ. † b. Arms composed: the addition by a gentleman to his own armorial bearings of a portion of those borne by his wife.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Componed or Composed, is also used in the general for a bordure, a pale, or a fess, composed of two different colours, or metals, disposed alternately.
1847. Gloss. Heraldry.
