[f. COMPOSE v. + -ING1.] The action of the verb COMPOSE (in its various senses).
1574. Whitgift, Def. Aunsw., 364 (R.). The appeasing and composing of controversies and heresies.
1594. Bp. J. King, Jonas (1618), 203. For the composing and attoneing of Christened kingdoms.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 23. The composing of a fit and easy Staires being a Masterpiece.
1688. Penn. Archives, I. 103. For the composing of several disputes and differences.
1708. Hearne, Collect., 4 Sept., II. 129. The Printers demand per sheet 14s. for composing.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., II. VIII. 121. They sung … hymns of their own composing.
1873. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. II. 315. To Wordsworth, composing was a healthy exercise.
2. Comb. (in sense 7 of the verb): composing-frame, the frame or stand at which a compositor stands; composing-machine, a machine for setting up type; composing-room, the room in which compositors work; (in quot. 1859) the room in which an author composes; composing-rule, a brass or steel rule against which the type is set in a composing stick, a setting-rule; composing-stand = composing-frame; composing-stick, an instrument (now of metal) of adjustable width, in which the type is set before being put on a galley.
1824. J. Johnson, Typogr., II. 222. The press-room should, if possible, be separated from the *composing-room.
a. 1859. De Quincey, Wks. (1863), II. 137. The poet’s study and composing room.
1889. Pall Mall G., 14 Nov., 2/3. Mr. Boyle began in the composing-room and ended in the editorial chair.
1679. Plot, Staffordsh. (1686), 358. It makes the half of an oblong right-angled parallelepiped cut diagonally, being somewhat like the *composing stick of a Printer.
1882. Blades, Caxton, 123. The composing-sticks were originally of hard wood, without any sliding adjustment.
