Forms: α. 4–6 compown(e, 4–7 compoun(e, (5 compone); β. 6 compownd(e, compounde, 6– compound. Pa. t. and pple. 5–6 compowned, compouned, 5–7 compound: see also COMPOUND ppl. a. [ME. compoune-n, -powne-n (in 15th c. also -pone), ad. OF. compon-re, -pondre, -pundre (pr. pple. componant (-pondant), 3 pl. pr. component) Pr. componre, -pondre, It. componere, comporre:—L. compōn-ĕre to place or put together: see COMPONE. (OF. on gave ME. oun, as in dragoun, lesoun, noun, soun.) The form compoun(e survived to c. 1575, and compound as pa. t. occurs even after 1600 (though it may then have been referred no longer to a vb. compoun, but looked upon merely as short for compounded); on the other hand, to compound(e is known at least as early as 1520. For the history of the final -d in compound, expound, propound, see EXPOUND, which in all its forms occurred earlier in English, and was the type followed by compound. In this word the current use of the original pa. pple. compouned, compound, as an adj., would of itself tend to establish a vb. to compound, as in to content, to direct, and the verbs referred to under -ATE3; cf. also ASTOUND ppl. a. and v.]
I. To put together, combine, construct, compose.
† 1. trans. To put together, to join; to apply.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 90. How that the Latin shall be compouned And in what wise it shall be souned.
1660. Barrow, Euclid, VI. xxxii. If two triangles having two sides proportional to two be so compounded or set together at one angle.
2. To put together, unite, combine, mix (elements). Now chiefly used of the mixing of various ingredients so as to form a composite product.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 83. Take jus of wormod … honey … barli mele … & compoune [MS. B compone] hem togidere & fille þe wounde. Ibid., 43. Ech of hem bi him-silf or ellis compound.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 116. Onely compound me with forgotten dust. Ibid. (c. 1600), Sonn., lxxi. When I (perhaps) compounded am with clay.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 237. Other sorts of odoriferous wood, which they compound with waters still’d with flowers.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 38. This terrene is compounded with the igneous, airy, and aqueous.
1817. Keatinge, Trav., I. 101. The artist … having compounded trees, rocks, and water, in such a manner as completely to spoil them all.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 14. 52. The very staff of life needs to be separated from its chaff, and variously compounded, before it can be used for … food.
b. of the mixing up of non-material elements.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 1018. Thus saugh I fals and sothe compouned.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath. (1839), 6. When a man compoundeth the image of his own person with the image of the actions of another man.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, 126. William Shakespeare … in whom three eminent Poets may seem in some sort to be compounded.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), VII. XVII. 273. His nature compounded different and contrary qualities together.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. App. 528. The … version is made up by compounding the story of William of Poitiers with that which we find in Henry of Huntingdon.
c. Math. To combine (individual forces, velocities, and the like), so as to obtain a resultant equivalent to the whole acting together; also to combine (ratios): see quot. 1875.
1571. Digges, Pantom., I. xx. G b. If magnitudes disioynedly or seperatly be proportionall, conioynedly or compounded, they shall also bee proportionall.
1875. Todhunter, Algebra, xxvi. 224. If the antecedents of any ratios be multiplied together and also the consequents, a new ratio is obtained, which is said to be compounded of the former ratios. Thus the ratio ac : bd is said to be compounded of the two ratios a : b and c : d.
1882. Minchin, Unipl. Kinemat., 33. Reversing P’s velocity on itself and on Q, and compounding this reversed velocity with Q’s absolute velocity.
1884. trans. Lotze’s Logic, 261. Complicated mechanical problems cannot always be solved by directly compounding all the forces in operation.
d. To combine (verbal elements) so as to make a compound word.
1530. Palsgr., 138. Somtyme prepositions be compounde with substantyves, as sursavlt.
1830. Herschel, Study Nat. Phil., 137. Whose names may become attached to, or compounded with, the former.
† e. intr. (for refl.) To unite, become compound.
1727. Thomson, Summer, 1792. Th’ obedient Phantoms vanish or appear; Compound, divide, and into Order shift.
3. trans. To make up (a composite product) by the mixture or combination of various ingredients or elements.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, II. 521. Tydynges Bothe of feire speche and chidynges And of fals and soth compovned [s.v. compowned].
14[?]. Epiph., in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 117. Ephyphanye Whych is a word … compowned … of Epi fyrst and phanos sothe to seyn.
c. 1570. Pride & Lowl. (1841), 81. It was compounded with great diligence Of symplis by an Apothecary.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 52 b. A beaste compouned of a swyne and of an Ape.
1611. Bible, Exod. xxx. 25. An oyntment compound [1569 compounde] after the arte of the Apothecarie.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 254. I.. did compound for her A certaine stuffe.
1662. H. Stubbe, Ind. Nectar, Pref. 6. Essays in compounding Chocolata.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physic (1762), p. xv. Method of compounding and decompounding Medecines.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, France & Italy, I. 80. Its construction was compounded of comic and distressful scenes.
1822. Q. Rev., XXVI. 205. Another solitary adept … who expected to compound the alcahest.
4. To compose; to construct, form. (Now used only in senses akin to 3.)
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., III. ix. 87. Neuer to compoune werke of floterynge mater. Ibid. (c. 1391), Astrol., Prol. 1. A suffisaunt astralabie as … compowned after the Latitude of Oxenford.
1571. Digges, Pantom., Pref. A ij. Superficies … whether they be compounde with straighte or [with] circulare lines, or mixte of bothe.
1577. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Chron., 31. Traiane … persuaded the Oratours to compounde many meetres to his praise.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., V. ii. 221. Shall not thou and I … compound a Boy, halfe French halfe English.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 459. One Nepos … compounded many Hymnes and Psalms.
1814. Southey, Roderick, XXIII. The Spirit who compounded thee.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 340. Meletus … has been compounding a riddle.
† b. To make up or form (an army). Obs.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, IV. i. § 8. He compounded an army of great strength. Ibid., V. ii. § 8. Who with the Boij and Insubriens, compound an army of fifty thousand foot.
1622–62. Heylyn, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 206/1. These Foot are compounded most of Gentry.
1644. Sir W. Waller, in Cal. St. Papers (1888), 301. An army compounded of these men.
† c. To devise, form (a scheme). Obs. rare.
1520. ed. of Caxton’s Chron. Eng., VII. 95/1. Kynge Edwarde … compounded in his mynde how he myght recover his treasour.
† 5. To make up, constitute, or compose, as ingredients or elements do. Obs.
1607. Shaks., Timon, IV. ii. 35. His pompe, and all what state compounds.
1663–4. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 140. [The reasons] altogether will not compound one solid argument.
1691. Ray, Creation (1714), 28. The Muscles compounding the sides of that ventricle. Ibid., I. (1704), 68. Corpuscles of such Figures as they compounded before.
II. To compose differences, settle claims.
† 6. To settle or compose (disturbance, strife, litigation, a difference). Obs.
1546. St. Papers Hen. VIII., XI. 224. All thinges being compownded and at a good poynte in the reste of the worlde.
1562. Act 5 Eliz., c. 4 § 28. Yf … the said Justice … cannot compounde and agre the Matter between [them].
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., I. ii. 28. Rise Gremio, rise, we will compound this quarrell.
1597–8. Bacon, Ess. Hon. & Reput. (Arb.), 70. Such as compound the long Miseries of ciuill Warres.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xxiv. 151. He compounds many petty differences betwix this neighbours.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1755), 16. They took great pleasure in compounding law-suits among their neighbours.
1757. Mrs. R. Griffith, Lett. Henry & Fr. (1767), I. 62. To compound this dispute upon revenge.
† b. absol. Obs.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., 4. Theyr judge will compound betweene the murderer and the friends of the murdered.
7. Of the parties: To settle (a matter) by mutual concession; to compromise.
1659. Gentl. Call. (1696), 134. Neither of the combatants were so implacable but that they could willingly have compounded the matter.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 154. We may compound the difference thus.
1777. W. Dalrymple, Trav. Sp. & Port., xi. I disputed the point, threatened to … complain, when we compounded the affair.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), V. 65. In case the suit had not been compounded.
8. a. To settle (a debt) by agreement for partial payment; to discharge (a recurring charge or subscription) by paying a lump sum.
1665. Manley, Grotius Low-C. Warres, 562. Horatio Palavine’s Debt … was afterwards privately compounded.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., I. 144. 33. Both knave and fool the Merchant we may call To pay great summs, and to compound the small.
1705. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), V. 581. Pitkin, the linnen draper … has compounded his debts for 8s. 6d. in the pound.
1827. Scott, Diary, 25 Dec. I might have employed the money … in compounding my debts.
b. To settle (any matter) by a money payment, in lieu of other liability.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 26, ¶ 2. I have compounded Two or Three Rapes.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Montriul. There is always a matter to compound at the door, before you can get into your chaise, and that is with the sons and daughters of poverty who surround you.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. xix. 172. With the police ’twere easy to compound it.
9. Said of the creditor or claimant: To accept a composition for; to condone (a liability or offense) for money or the like; to settle privately with one.
To compound a felony (or the like): to forbear prosecution for some consideration, which is an offense at law. To compound an information: to reveal a crime, and commence a prosecution, with the object of being paid or ‘squared’ in order to desist.
1683. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. xv. 284. Orderd, that none of the said company … presume to take or compound for the future, any fines.
1727. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. xlvii. 42. It is the business of the next relations to revenge the dead person; and if they like better to compound the matter for money there is no more said of it.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 201, ¶ 10. His companions … laughed at his uneasiness, compounded the offence for a bottle.
1775. Burke, Sp. Conc. Amer., Wks. III. 122. I for one, protest against compounding our demands: I declare against compounding for a poor limited sum, the immense, evergrowing, eternal debt … due to generous government.
† 10. To agree, make terms, bargain, contract (with, for). Also with indirect passive. Obs.
1419. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 28, I. 88. For the which guerdon … oure said Lord of Powys hase compownyd with us and fynaly accorded.
1557. Tusser, 100 Points Husb., xi. With thy seruauntes compound, to carry thy muckhilles, on thy barley ground.
1602. Segar, Hon. Mil. & Civ., III. xiii. 129. Seuen gentlemen doe compound with seuen other, to run certaine courses at the Tilt.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. ii. 25. Compound with him by the yeere, and let him abide here with you.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 397. It is believed that Richard himself was compounded with, to have resigned the place.
11. To come to terms or settle a dispute, by compromise or mutual concession.
a. 1528. Skelton, Vox Populi, 325. I wysche they myght have grateis Lysens to compounde.
1602. Warner, Alb. Eng., IX. xlv. (1612), 213. Richard Plantagenet, the Duke of Yorke … Sought to depose sixt Henrie … But they compound.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, III. xi. § 5. Agesilaus having thus compounded with Tithraustes, entred Phrygia.
1635. Quarles, Embl., I. x. (1718), 43. Take my advice: compound, and share the prize.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 533, ¶ 2. They gladly compounded to throw their cards in the fire if he would his paper.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. vi. 333. Aldegonde had promised the enemy to bring them to compound.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. xii. 194. Being angry and irresolute, he had been painfully driven to and fro, and was glad to compound with his passion.
12. To come to terms as to the amount of a payment; to make a pecuniary arrangement (with a person, for forgoing a claim, conferring a benefit, etc.).
1539. Act 31 Hen. VIII., c. 4. The saide recompence … to be paied … onlesse that the maire … can otherwise compound or agree with the lordes.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 7 b. These Coronells … will accept of no Captaines, but of such as will compound with them and buy their Captainship.
1652. Needham, Selden’s Mare Cl., 492. Enforced them to compound for great summes that they might fish quietly for one year.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. i. (1743), 142. The Bishop compounds for the First Fruits of his Bishoprick.
1763. Brit. Mag., IV. 175. Compounders for malt shall not be liable to compound, or pay duties, for cyder or perry, to be … consumed in their own families.
1865. Merivale, Rom. Emp., VIII. lxiii. 21. These new occupants gladly compounded for the protection … by a tribute.
fig. 1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. vi. 33. For hearing this, I must perforce compound with mixtfull eyes, or they will issue to.
1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., Wks. 1842, II. 270. But they have a means of compounding with their nature.
1887. Lowell, Democr., 94. [Memory] is forced to compound as best she may with her inexorable creditor—Oblivion.
13. To come to terms and pay for an offense or injury: to substitute a money payment in lieu of any other liability or obligation; to pay.
1555. Fardle Facions, II. xi. 257. Thei neuer lette them go vntill they haue compounded by the purse.
1632. Star Chamb. Cases (Camd. Soc.), 126. He alsoe brought his severall actions of rescusse against every one of them; some compound with him.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 1. Their purses compound for their follies.
1654. Ordinances, c. 55. Sept., 2. The persons so compounding.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. cxiv. Encroachments that shall be compounded for.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1772, 75. The governor would have compounded for his life by ransome.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iv. 199. The country gentlemen were compelled to take up knighthood, or to compound for exemption.
b. To discharge any liability or satisfy any claim by a compromise whereby something lighter or easier is substituted.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. i. 215. Compound for Sins they are inclin’d to, By damning those they have no mind to.
1735. Somerville, Chase, III. 211. The captive Fox … with a Limb Compounded for his Life.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., II. 74. The personal attendance in knight-service growing troublesome … the tenants found means of compounding for it; by first sending others in their stead, and in process of time making a pecuniary satisfaction to the lords in lieu of it.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 291. No Papist more desirous to compound, Than some grave sinners upon English ground.
c. To pay one sum as a final discharge for an annual or recurring charge or subscription.
1867. Oxford Univ. Calendar, 100. But, in lieu of this annual charge, every one … may … compound for all such Dues.
14. Of an insolvent debtor: To settle with creditors and pay a fixed proportion in discharge of their full claims.
1654. Warren, Unbelievers, 64. Christ did not compound with the Father, as broken debtors with the creditour, making him to take lesse then was due.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 736. Dr. Cox put himself in prison purposely to compound for his debts.
1771. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 64. He failed … compounded, and went to America.
1809. R. Langford, Introd. Trade, 121. A tradesman … compounds with his creditors for 8s. 71/4d. per pound.
15. To accept a composition in lieu of one’s full claims, or of things relinquished.
1611. Heywood, Gold. Age, I. Wks. 1874, III. 8. Tytan. If my owne land proue thus vnnaturall I’le purchase forraine aid. 1 Lord. Rather compound.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Warres, 133. The rest of his men … compounded for the other Towns they had.
1750. Chesterf., Lett., III. 21. I am very willing to compound for your coming nearer to perfection than the generality of your contemporaries.
1819. Crabbe, T. of Hall, VII. Wks. 1834, VI. 137. So Fancy willed, nor would Compound for less.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), V. IX. vii. 365. If the Emperor should compound for any territory, and receive tribute instead of possession.
b. To accept terms of settlement in lieu of prosecution: hence the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents (i.e., Royalists) under the Commonwealth.
1576. Act 18 Eliz., c. 5 § 4. No suche Informer … may compounde or agree with any Person … that shall offende against any Penall statute.
a. 1626. Bacon, Max. & Uses Com. Law, 2. If they will not sue, or if they be compounded withall.
1646. Ordinances, c. 69. Feb., 6. For establishing Commissioners … to compound with Delinquents.
1829. Scott, Rob Roy, Introd. 9. To prevent those who have lost … money by robbery, from compounding with the felons for restoration of a part of their booty.
1889–90. (title) Calendar of the Proceedings of the Committee for Compounding, 1643–1660.
