Com-pōse′, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. COMPOSED; p. pr. & vb. n. COMPOSING.] [Fr. composer, from Lat. componere, compositum, to put, place together, from com, for con, and ponere, to put.]
Sense 1. To form by uniting two or more things, parts, or individuals; to put together; to make up.
Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affections. Spratt.
Sense 2. To be combined so as to form; to constitute.
Their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb. Milton.
A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions. Watts.
Sense 3. To construct by mental labor; to originate; to become the author of, as a book, poem, or the like.
Let me compose Something in verse as well as prose. Pope.
Sense 4. To place in proper form; to reduce to order; to adjust; to settle; to regulate.
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. Dryden.
How in safety best we may Compose our present evils. Milton.
A hearty desire to compose all feuds. I. Taylor.
Sense 5. To free from agitation or disturbance; to set at rest; to tranquilize; to quiet; to soothe.
Compose thy mind; Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed. Dryden.
Sense 6. (Print.) To place in proper order for printing, as types, usually in a frame called the composing-stick.
Sense 7. (Mus.) To put together, as tones, according to the laws of melody and harmony, producing a piece of music.