v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Composed p. pr. & vb. n. Composing. ] [ F. composer; com- + poser to place. The sense is that of L. componere, but the origin is different. See Pose, v. t. ] 1. To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection. Bp. Sprat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their borrowed gold composed
The calf in Oreb. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To construct by mental labor; to design and execute, or put together, in a manner involving the adaptation of forms of expression to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or proportion; as, to compose a sentence, a sermon, a symphony, or a picture. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let me compose
Something in verse as well as prose. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The genius that composed such works as the “Standard” and “Last Supper”. B. R. Haydon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate. [ 1913 Webster ]

In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

How in safety best we may
Compose our present evils. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compose thy mind;
Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Print.) To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To come to terms. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from agitation; calm; sedate; quiet; tranquil; self-possessed. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Mantuan there in sober triumph sate,
Composed his posture, and his look sedate. Pope.

-- Com*pos"ed*ly adv. -- Com*pos"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who composes; an author. Specifically, an author of a piece of music. [ 1913 Webster ]

If the thoughts of such authors have nothing in them, they at least . . . show an honest industry and a good intention in the composer. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

His [ Mozart's ] most brilliant and solid glory is founded upon his talents as a composer. Moore (Encyc. of Mus.). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who, or that which, quiets or calms; one who adjusts a difference. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sweet composers of the pensive soul. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Tending to compose or soothe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to, or used in, composition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Composing frame (Print.), a stand for holding cases of type when in use. --
Composing rule (Print.), a thin slip of brass or steel, against which the type is arranged in a composing stick, or by the aid of which stickfuls or handfuls or type are lifted; -- called also setting rule. --
Composing stick (Print.), an instrument usually of metal, which the compositor holds in his left hand, and in which he arranges the type in words and lines. It has one open side, and one adjustable end by means of which the length of the lines, and consequently the width of the page or column, may be determined. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., from L. compositus made up of parts. See Composite. ] (Bot.) A large family of dicotyledonous plants, having their flowers arranged in dense heads of many small florets and their anthers united in a tube. The daisy, dandelion, and asters, are examples. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which is made up of parts or compounded of several elements; composition; combination; compound. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. compositus made up of parts, p. p. of componere. See Compound, v. t., and cf. Compost. ] 1. Made up of distinct parts or elements; compounded; as, a composite language. [ 1913 Webster ]

Happiness, like air and water . . . is composite. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) Belonging to a certain order which is composed of the Ionic order grafted upon the Corinthian. It is called also the Roman or the Italic order, and is one of the five orders recognized by the Italian writers of the sixteenth century. See Capital. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Belonging to the order Compositæ; bearing involucrate heads of many small florets, as the daisy, thistle, and dandelion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Composite carriage, a railroad car having compartments of different classes. [ Eng. ] --
Composite number (Math.), one which can be divided exactly by a number exceeding unity, as 6 by 2 or 3.. --
Composite photograph or
Composite portrait, one made by a combination, or blending, of several distinct photographs. F. Galton. --
Composite sailing (Naut.), a combination of parallel and great circle sailing. --
Composite ship, one with a wooden casing and iron frame. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. composition, fr. L. compositio. See Composite. ] 1. The act or art 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) The art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See 4, below. (c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc. (d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment. [ 1913 Webster ]

View them in composition with other things. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The elementary composition of bodies. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition. [ 1913 Webster ]

A composition that looks . . . like marble. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no composition in these news
That gives them credit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus we are agreed:
I crave our composition may be written. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cleared by composition with their creditors. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis. [ 1913 Webster ]

The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Composition cloth, a kind of cloth covered with a preparation making it waterproof. --
Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a debtor and several creditors. --
Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions. --
Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions. Herbert. --
Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called Muntz metal and yellow metal. --
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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. compositivus. ] Having the quality of entering into composition; compounded. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]