Cŏm'po-sĭ'tion, n.
(-zĭsh'un), n. [Lat. compositio, Fr. composition, Pr. composicio, Sp. composicion, It. composizione.]
Sense 1. The act of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses, (a.) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music. “The constant habit of elaborate composition.” Macaulay. (b.) (Fine Arts.) That combination of the several parts in which each is presented in its due proportion.
By composition is meant the distribution and orderly placing of things, both in general and particular. Dryden. (c.) The arrangement of types in a composing-stick for use in printing; as, a printer quick in composition.
Sense 2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment. “View them in composition with others.” Watts. “The elementary composition of bodies.” Whewell.
Sense 3. That which is formed by putting together or composing; as a chemical, literary, musical composition, or the like. See No. 1.
Vast pillars of stone cased over with a composition that looks like marble. Addison.
Sense 4. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy.
Thus we are agreed; I crave our composition may be written. Shak.
Sense 5. (Law.) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties. “Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood.” Hallam.
Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force which shall be equal to two or more given forces when acting in given directions. Hebert.—Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four proportionals, so that the sum of the first and second is to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth. Barlow.