Obs. or dial. [a. F. composture, ad. L. compos[i]tūra, f. composit- ppl. stem of compōnere: see COMPOSITION. Cf. posture, imposture (= imposition). Med.L. compostūra, and OF. composture were chiefly in sense 2.]

1

  1.  Composition, composure (of action or state).

2

1614.  Selden, Titles Hon., Ded. A iij. I call you not my Patron. Truth in my References, Likelyhood in my Coniectures, and the whole Composture shall be in steed of One. Ibid., I. vii. 150. Archt Crowns … as truly Imperiall as the Emperors, but differing in composture.

3

1671.  Grew, Anat. Plants, I. v. § 6. The first apparent Fould or Composture of the Leaves.

4

1888.  Elworthy, in W. Somerset Word-bk.

5

  b.  concr. A composition.

6

  2.  Compost, manure.

7

1607.  Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 444. The Earth’s a Theefe, That feeds and breeds by a composture stolne From gen’rall excrement.

8