[f. COMPOUND v. + -ER1.] One who compounds, in the various senses of the vb.

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  1.  One who makes a compound of ingredients.

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1622.  G. G., Creat. Praysing God, 8. Their composition … must necessarily presuppose first a compounder.

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1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xix. To propose another [health] in honour of the punch-compounder.

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1855.  Brewster, Newton, II. xxv. 373. The most ignorant compounder of simples.

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1883.  Dr. E. Downes, in Rep. Calcutta Missionary Conf., 414. In a large Hospital … a native Doctor, two Compounders, and a Steward … would be required. Ibid., 416. The compounders … give out the medicines.

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  † 2.  One who settles or composes strife or quarrels; reproachfully, a compromiser. Obs.

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1539.  Tonstall, Serm. Palm Sund. (1823), 73. Lyttell warre hath ben in … Christendome, but the bysshop of Rome … hath ben a styrrer of it … seldome any compounder of it.

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1581.  Lambarde, Eiren., I. ii. (1602), 10. I wish him to be, as well … a Compounder, as a Commissioner of the peace.

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1612–20.  Shelton, Quix., IV. xix. (1652), 124. They held it to bee the best course to … bee compounders of peace and amity between Sancho Panca and the Barber.

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1724.  Swift, Drapier’s Lett., vii. Softners, sweetners, compounders, and expedient-mongers.

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  b.  Hist. A name given (c. 1692) to those who wished for a restoration of James II. under guarantees for the constitution and with a general amnesty.

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1775.  J. Macpherson, Orig. Papers, I. 445. His friends in Britain, who wanted to restore him on conditions, and were known by the name of compounders.

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1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), III. xv. 127. The Jacobite faction was divided between compounders and non-compounders.

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1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 385.

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  3.  One who compounds for a liability, debt, or charge; one who compounds a felony or offense; one who pays a lump sum in discharge of recurrent payments to which he is liable.

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1542.  in W. H. Turner, Select Rec. Oxford, 167. Thomas Malynson shall have … the … place of a Chamberleyn … as a compownder. Ibid. (1578), 395. Eyerye Chamberlen, or compounder for Chamberlenshippe ijd.

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1660.  Milton, Free Commw., ¶ 7.

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a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 58. Our holiest actions have been Th’ effects of wickedness and sin: Religious Houses made Compounders For th’ horrid Actions of the Founders.

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1763.  Brit. Mag., IV. 175. Compounders neglecting … to pay their composition-money.

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1832.  Act 2–3 Will. IV., c. 100 § 5. Any person compounding for tithes … or … any tenant of any such … lessee or compounder.

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1888.  Pall Mall G., 20 July, 14/1. A compounder of felony … and a suborner of false testimony.

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  b.  Grand and Petty Compounders: in the University of Oxford, proceeders or inceptors who paid higher fees for their degrees in consideration of being possessed of an independent income. (Abolished in 1853. Burke’s use is erroneous.)

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1682.  Wood, Life (1848), 245. Bishop Brideoake’s son of Trinity to be M.A., five terms given to him, and to go out grand compounder. Ibid. (1691), Fasti Oxon., an. 1522, I. 665. Richard Parker a compounder, or one that payed double or treble fees for his Degree, as having a temporal estate.

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1714.  Ayliffe, Univ. Oxford, III. i. (1723), II. 134. Only grand Compounders have the Precedence of all others of the same Year.

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1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 384. Grand compounders in politicks, who shorten the road to their degrees in the state.

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1868.  G. V. Cox, Recoll. Oxford, xii. 238. ‘Have you £300 a year of your own?’ if ‘Yes,’ which was generally given with reluctance, sometimes extorted with difficulty and loss of time, ‘Then you are a Grand-Compounder and your fees are so and so.’ If under £300 a year and above £5, the proceeder was entered as Petty Compounder, and paid 10s. 8d. more than the ordinary proceeder.

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