Also 6 compest, -pesse. [a. OF. composter to manure, to dung, f. compost sb. In med.L. compostāre. Cf. COMPASS v.2 and COMPESTER.]

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  1.  To treat with compost, to manure or dung.

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[1388.  Charter Priory of Newenham, in Dugdale, Monast. Angl. (1661), II. 243. Dictas terras excolendas et compostandas sive per carectam sive per ovile.]

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1499.  Promp. Parv., 89. Compostyn or dungyn, stercoro.

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1552.  Huloet, Dungen, compesse, or mucke, stercoro.

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1577.  Harrison, England, III. x. (1878), II. 69. The inhabitors doo compest their soile.

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1641.  Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 53. Fields … drencht with blood, and composted with carcasses.

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  fig.  1639.  Fuller, Holy War, V. xxx. (1647), 285. The plouwman … will be soon out of heart, if not maintained and (as I may say) composted with hopes to receive benefit by his labours.

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  2.  To make into compost.

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1829.  J. L. Knapp, Jrnl. Nat., 6. Our farmers … use considerable quantities, composted with earth, for their different crops.

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1864.  Reader, No. 101. 711/2. The rotten leaves are composted by the pressure of the atmosphere.

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  Hence Composting vbl. sb., manuring.

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1481.  Caxton, Tulle of Old Age. By which dongyng and compostyng the feldes gladeth.

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1576.  Newton, Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 216.

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1587.  Harrison, Descr. Brit., I. xviii., in Holinshed. It shall not need of anie further compesting.

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