compose

Borrowed 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)

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• 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.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Bishop Sprat

     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.

   • (Can we date this quote?) I. Watts

     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.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Alexander Pope

     Let me compose / Something in verse as well as prose.

   • (Can we date this quote?) B. R. Haydon

     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.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Dryden

     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 2011, p. 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.
   • (Can we date this quote?) Dryden

     In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.

   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     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

compose

1. first-person singular present indicative of composer
2. third-person singular present indicative of composer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of composer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of composer
5. second-person singular imperative of composer

compose

1. third-person singular past historic of comporre