Composer

[f. COMPOSE v. + -ER¹. Cf. F. composeur.]

  1.  One who puts together or combines into a whole; one who fashions or constructs. rare.

1644.  Bp. Williams, Rights of Kings (1662), 43 (T.). To be the composers, contrivers, or assistants, in concluding of any ecclesiastical law.

1657.  May, Satir. Puppy, 40. Farewell Poetry; thou trim Composer of disjuncted Sense.

a. 1693.  Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xxxiii. 278. Composers of green Arbours.

1699.  Evelyn, Acetaria (1729), 146. A wise man is the proper composer of an excellent Sallet.

  † b.  A mixer or mingler. Obs.

1561.  Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 58 a. These composers or mongerels with their temperature and mixture.

  † c.  A component, a constituent part. Obs.

1610.  Markham, Masterp., I. iv. 11. Humours … are the third composers of a horses body.

  2.  One who composes a literary work; an author or writer.

1603.  Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 101. Like unto composers of Tragedies.

1644.  Milton, Educ. Able writers and composers in every excellent matter.

1818.  Parr, Wks. (1828), VIII. 646. Instances in which great critics have shewn themselves not very correct composers.

1863.  J. G. Murphy, Comm. Gen. iii. 21. Moses being not the mere collector, but the composer of the documents contained in Genesis.

  3.  One who composes music. (The usual sense, when used without defining additions.)

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., 181. Some wil be good descanters … and yet wil be but bad composers.

1644.  Milton, Educ. The well studied chords of some choice composer.

1691.  Dryden, Albion & Alb., Pref. The Composer Monsieur Grabut … has so exactly express’d my sense … that he seems … to have been the Poet as well as the Composer.

1880.  Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 413/1. Mr. Cowen is also the composer of many popular songs.

1883.  Rockstro, Life Handel, xxviii. The greatest Composer in the world.

  4.  One who arranges or groups according to the laws of artistic composition; † a designer.

1723.  Lond. Gaz., No. 6171/7. Henry Shallcross late of Morden … Composer to the Callicoe Factory there.

1836.  Emerson, Nature, Beauty, Wks. (Bohn), II. 145. As the eye is the best composer, so light is the first of painters.

  † 5.  One who sets up type, a compositor. Obs.

1634.  Harington, Salerne’s Regiment, Pref. 4. The faults of the Composer and Correcter shall neyther be excused nor accused by mee.

1637.  Laud, Lett., in Hist. Chancellorsh. Oxf. The procuring of a sufficient composer, and corrector, for the Eastern languages.

1708–15.  Kersey, Compositor, a Printer’s Composer, that sets the Matter.

  6.  A person or thing that adjusts, settles, tranquilizes, etc.

1649.  Hammond, Serm., Matt. xi. 30, Wks. 1684, IV. 479. Seeking out those great composers of the soul.

1711.  Gay, Rural Sports, II. Ye murm’ring streams … The sweet composers of the pensive soul.

1735.  R. James, Canine Madness (1760), 156. [Musk] is a great composer, and excellent in convulsions.

1827.  Earl Shaftesbury, in Life (1886), I. ii. 72. Yesterday read ‘Watson’s Apology’ … an everlasting composer for busy Deists and wounded faith.