compose

From Middle English composen, from Old French composer (“to compose, compound, adjust, settle”), from com- + poser, as an adaptation of Latin componere (“to put together, compose”), from com- (“together”) + ponere (“to put, place”).

• (General American) enPR: kəm-pōzʹ, IPA^(key): /kəmˈpoʊz/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: kəm-pōzʹ, IPA^(key): /kəmˈpəʊz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊz

compose (third-person singular simple present composes, present participle composing, simple past and past participle composed)

1. (transitive) To make something by merging parts. [from later 15th c.]

   The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.

   • December 22 1678, Thomas Sprat, A Sermon Preached before the King at White-Hall

     Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection.

2. (transitive) To make up the whole; to constitute.

   A church is composed of its members.

   • 1741, I[saac] Watts, The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC, paragraph:

     A few useful things […] compose their intellectual possessions.

3. (transitive, nonstandard) To comprise.
4. (transitive or intransitive) To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary or musical work.

   The orator composed his speech over the week prior.

   Nine numbered symphonies, including the Fifth, were composed by Beethoven.

   It's difficult to compose without absolute silence.

   • 1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6:

     Let me […] compose / Something in Verse as true as Prose.

   • 1838, Benjamin Haydon, Painting, and the fine arts:

     the genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper"

5. (sometimes reflexive) To calm; to free from agitation.

   Try to compose your thoughts.

   The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.

   • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     Compose thy mind; / Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.

6. To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
7. To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
   • 2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 280:

     By trying his best to compose matters with the mullahs, he had sincerely shown that he did not seek a violent collision […]

8. To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
   • 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     How in safety best we may / Compose our present evils.

9. (printing, dated) To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

• (make up the whole): constitute, form; see also Thesaurus:compose

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.poz/

compose

1. inflection of composer:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

compose

1. third-person singular past historic of comporre