[This word, with disposure, exposure, appeared about 1600; appar. of English formation, from compose, dispose, expose, by form-association with enclose, enclosure, or other words in which the formation was etymological, repr. L. -sūra: see -URE.] Formerly used in nearly all the senses of COMPOSITION: now only as in sense 10.
I. As an action: composition, compounding.
† 1. The action or process of composing, constructing, arranging, forming; composition. Obs.
1609. Heywood, Brit. Troy, XII. xlii. His orbicular Targe … Which Vulcan by deuine Composure made.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 3. He hath free power in the composure of his Physick.
1699. Evelyn, Acetaria (1729), 145. The Composure of a Sallet.
1699. J. Woodward, in Phil. Trans., XXI. 193. Matter whereof those Bodies consist … received … for the Composure of others.
† 2. Intellectual production; literary, musical, or artistic composition.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., I. iv. Demosthenes … In the composure of all his exquisite, and mellifluous orations.
1624. Bolton, Nero, 201. Hee … addicted himselfe to the composure of verses.
1694. W. Holder, Harmony, Introd. The Masters of Harmonick Composure, and the skilful Artists in Performance.
1765. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Col. Mass., iii. 381. One of the ministers … had a remarkable talent for very quick and sudden composures.
† 3. Compounding, mixing, combination. Obs.
1715. M. Davies, Ath. Brit., I. 292. The present English Tongue … made up of the Mixture and Composure of the Ancient-Saxon, Anglo-Saxon, and Occasional Terms of all other Languages.
† 4. A composing or adjusting, esp. of differences or disputes; agreement, settlement. Obs.
1640–4. in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 309. A good Issue … expected by the amicable way of Treaty and Composure.
1645. Pagitt, Heresiogr. (1661), 299. 140 Members of the House of Commons, known … to have voted for a Composure with the King.
1694. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 392. Matters are not yet ripe for composure.
1709. Stanhope, Paraphr., IV. 192. The composure of those Troubles, by the appearance of an Angel.
† 5. A composition (with creditors). Obs.
1679. Lond. Gaz., No. 1408/4. The Proposals lately made by him for a Composure with his Creditors.
II. As a resulting state or condition.
† 6. Composition, constitution, or construction, esp. as to its mode. a. generally. Obs.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), Ep. Salut. 2. The composure and order of the first methodical Surgeons Chest.
1660. Sharrock, Vegetables, Ep. Ded. As to the form and composure of matter.
1670–98. Lassels, Voy. Italy, I. 115. The whole composure of this altar and tabernacle being the height of wit and riches … you [cannot] admire sufficiently.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Guide, II. ii. (1738), 7. Inequality in the Blood’s Composure.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., III. 131. A whole … in whose composure just The acquiescent and recipient side Was Pietro’s, and the stirring striving one Violante’s.
† b. of the human frame and its parts. Obs.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. xxxvii. No man had euer power to order Nature in his owne composure.
a. 1635. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 57. Of a most neat composure, and tall in his person.
a. 1716. Blackall, Wks. (1723), I. 275. Such is the Composure of the Eye.
† c. Personal constitution, temperament. Obs.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., I. iv. 22. His composure must be rare indeed, Whom these things cannot blemish.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson, 24. In all his natural and ordinary inclinations and composure, there was something extraordinary.
1705. Vanbrugh, Confed., I. ii. Of so happy a composure to care a fig for no body.
1715. Mrs. J. Barker, Exilius, II. 136. She is of a Composure, both of Mind and Person, above any Thing below a Scipio.
† 7. Mode of disposing or arranging: posture, pose. Obs.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., Discont. Man (Arb.), 27. His composure of himself is a studied carelessnesse with his armes a crosse, and a neglected hanging of his head.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Gard. Cyrus, ii. The … Tomb … was in the form of a Lozenge; readily made out by the composure of the body.
† 8. Form or style: a. literary; b. musical. Obs.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), A b. The harsh composure and conveyance of the stile.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., I. xvi. 59. In a Poetical strain and composure.
1641. Vind. Smectymnuus, § 2. 40. Neither for matter nor for composure subject to just exception.
1659. Evelyn, Diary, 5 May. A new opera … in recitative music and sceanes, much inferior to the Italian composure and magnificence.
1734. Watts, Reliq. Juv., xxvi. It is … by a warm composure, that some of the French preachers reign over their assemblies.
† 9. Composed or settled condition of affairs; public quietness or tranquillity. Obs.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 27/2. There … followed so excellent a composure throughout the whole kingdom, that the like peace and Plenty … was never enjoyed.
1767. Gen. Conway, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 519. IV. 508. Everything is in a profound tranquillity … except in Poland, where I hope … that affairs will soon come to a composure.
10. Composed condition of mind, feelings, or demeanor; tranquillity, calmness, collectedness. (The extant sense.)
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 272. To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve … With sweet austeer composure thus reply’d.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIX. 448. With cool composure feign’d, the Chief replies.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 193, ¶ 10. We sit down with great composure and write a letter to ourselves.
1838. Lytton, Leila, I. ii. An eye and lip of rigid composure.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 34. Greek serenity and composure of spirit.
III. As a concrete product.
† 11. A composed fabric or structure material or immaterial; a made up whole, a combination, structure, COMPOSITION. Obs.
1609. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. iii. 109 (Q0.). It was a strong composure [Folios counsell] … a foole could disunite.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. iii. Nor will the needle nor the loome … such composures make of silke and gold.
1619. Judgmt. Synode Dort, 54. A patched composure of Stoicisme, Manicheisme, Libertinisme, and Turcisme.
1733. Cheyne, Eng. Malady, II. v. § 5 (1734), 159. Food … fitted for Use, without the artful Composures of Cookery.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1852), I. 387. Gross composures of flesh and blood like ourselves.
† 12. A literary, musical, or artistic composition.
a. 1603. Drayton, Odes, ii. 37. In my choise Composures The soft and easie Closures … amorously shall meet.
1721. R. Keith, trans. T. à Kempis’ Vall. Lilies, Pref. 1. Two of the genuine Composures of … Thomas a Kempis.
1771. Orton, Disc. to Aged, Pref. 4. The composures of my honoured fathers.
b. 1660. Waterhouse, Arms & Arm., To Rdr. The notes of a good composure melodious to musical eares.
1732. Historia Litt., IV. 97. Metastasio, known by his Opera’s and other Composures.
c. 1668. Evelyn, trans. Freart’s Idea Painting, 8. The Project of a more finished Composure.
1704. J. Elsum, Art Paint., 32. The Colours … are ill managed in working … which is enough to spoil the whole Composure.
