Word Study
compose
CIDE DICTIONARY
compose, v. t. [F. composer; com- + poser to place. The sense is that of L. componere, but the origin is different. See Pose, v. t. ].
- 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." [1913 Webster]
- To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute. [1913 Webster]"Their borrowed gold composed
The calf in Oreb." [1913 Webster]"A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions." [1913 Webster] - 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." [1913 Webster]"The genius that composed such works as the “Standard” and “Last Supper”." [1913 Webster] - 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." [1913 Webster]"How in safety best we may
Compose our present evils." [1913 Webster] - 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." [1913 Webster] - To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type). [1913 Webster]
compose, v. i.
To come to terms. Shak. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
compose, v.
1 a tr. construct or create (a work of art, esp. literature or music). b intr. compose music (gave up composing in 1917).
2 tr. constitute; make up (six tribes which composed the German nation).
1 a tr. construct or create (a work of art, esp. literature or music). b intr. compose music (gave up composing in 1917).
2 tr. constitute; make up (six tribes which composed the German nation).
Idiom
composed of made up of, consisting of (a flock composed of sheep and goats).
Usage
Preferred to comprise in this sense.
3 tr. put together to form a whole, esp. artistically; order; arrange (composed the group for the photographer).
4 tr. a (often refl.) calm; settle (compose your expression; composed himself to wait). b (as composed adj.) calm, settled.
5 tr. settle (a dispute etc.).
6 tr. Printing a set up (type) to form words and blocks of words. b set up (a manuscript etc.) in type.
3 tr. put together to form a whole, esp. artistically; order; arrange (composed the group for the photographer).
4 tr. a (often refl.) calm; settle (compose your expression; composed himself to wait). b (as composed adj.) calm, settled.
5 tr. settle (a dispute etc.).
6 tr. Printing a set up (type) to form words and blocks of words. b set up (a manuscript etc.) in type.
Derivative
composedly adv.
Etymology
F composer, f. L componere (as COM-, ponere put)
THESAURUS
compose
accommodate, accommodate with, accord, adapt, adapt to, adjust, adjust to, admix, agree with, align, allay, allocate, allot, alloy, amalgamate, appease, apportion, arrange, arrange matters, array, assemble, assimilate to, author, balm, be guided by, becalm, bemingle, bend, blend, bottle up, brew, bring to terms, bring together, build, build up, calm, calm down, cast, check, chime in with, close, close with, coalesce, coauthor, collaborate, collect, collocate, combine, comfort, commingle, commix, comply, comply with, compose oneself, compound, comprise, compromise, conclude, concoct, conform, conglomerate, consist in, consist of, console, constitute, construct, contain, contrive, control, cool, cop out, correct, correspond, cradle, create, dash off, deal, deal out, decoct, devise, discipline, dispose, distribute, down, dream up, duck responsibility, dulcify, ease, ease up, editorialize, elaborate, embody, emulsify, enter into, erect, evade responsibility, even out, evolve, extrude, fabricate, fall in with, fashion, fit, fix, fix up, follow, form, formulate, frame, free-lance, fudge together, fuse, gear to, gentle, get up, ghost, ghostwrite, give and take, give way, go by, go fifty-fifty, go into, harmonize, hash, heal the breach, hold in, homogenize, hush, imagine, immingle, immix, impose, incorporate, indite, instrument, instrumentate, integrate, interblend, interlace, interlard, intermingle, intermix, intertwine, interweave, invent, join, jumble, justify, knead, knock off, knock out, lessen, let up, line, line up, lull, make, make a deal, make an adaptation, make an adjustment, make concessions, make conform, make one easy, make up, manufacture, marshal, mature, mediate, meet, meet halfway, melodize, merge, merge in, mingle, mingle-mangle, mitigate, mix, mix up, moderate, modulate, mold, mollify, musicalize, novelize, observe, orchestrate, organize, originate, overrun, pacify, pamphleteer, parcel out, patch things up, patch together, pi, pi a form, piece together, place, play politics, pocket, pour balm into, prefabricate, prepare, produce, put in tune, put to music, put together, put up, quell, quiet, quiet down, raise, rally, range, reach a compromise, rear, reconcile, rectify, regiment, rein, relax, repress, resolve, rest, restore harmony, restrain, reunite, rock, rock to sleep, rub off corners, run up, scenarize, score, scramble, set, set in print, set out, set to music, set up, settle, settle differences, settle with, shape, shuffle, simmer down, slacken, smooth, smooth down, smooth it over, smooth over, smoothen, smother, soften, solace, soothe, space, split the difference, stabilize, steady, still, stir up, straighten, straighten out, strike a balance, strike a bargain, structure, subdue, suit, suppress, surrender, syncretize, synthesize, take the mean, tally with, temper, think up, throw on paper, throw together, toss together, tranquilize, transcribe, transpose, tune down, unite in, weave peace between, whomp up, work, work out, write, yieldROGET THESAURUS
compose
Writing
VB write, pen, copy, engross, write out, write out fair, transcribe, scribble, scrawl, scrabble, scratch, interline, stain paper, write down, sign, enface, compose, indite, draw up, draft, formulate, dictate, inscribe, throw on paper, dash off, manifold, take up the pen, take pen in hand, shed ink, spill ink, dip one's pen in ink.Printing
VB print, compose, put to press, go to press, pass through the press, see through the press, publish, bring out, appear in print, rush into print, distribute, makeup, mortise, offset, overrun, rout.Composition
VB be composed of, be made of, be formed of, be made up of, consist of, be resolved into, include, contain, hold, comprehend, take in, admit, embrace, embody, involve, implicate, drag into, compose, constitute, form, make, make up, fill up, build up, enter into the composition of.Component
VB enter into, enter into the composition of, be a component, be part of, form part of, merge in, be merged in, be implicated in, share in, belong to, appertain to, combine, inhere in, unite, form, make, constitute, compose.Pacification
VB pacify, tranquilize, compose, allay, reconcile, propitiate, placate, conciliate, meet halfway, hold out the olive branch, heal the breach, make peace, restore harmony, bring to terms, settle matters, arrange matters, accommodate matters, accommodate differences, set straight, make up a quarrel, tantas componere lites, come to an understanding, come to terms, bridge over, hush up, make it, make matters up, shake hands, mend one's fences, raise a siege, lift a siege, put up the sword, sheathe the sword, bury the hatchet, lay down one's arms, turn swords into plowshares, smoke the calumet of peace, close the temple of Janus, keep the peace, be pacified, come round.Production
VB produce, perform, operate, do, make, gar, form, construct, fabricate, frame, contrive, manufacture, weave, forge, coin, carve, chisel, build, raise, edify, rear, erect, put together, set up, run up, establish, constitute, compose, organize, institute, achieve, accomplish, flower, bear fruit, fructify, teem, ean, yean, farrow, drop, pup, kitten, kindle, bear, lay, whelp, bring forth, give birth to, lie in, be brought to bed of, evolve, pullulate, usher into the world, make productive, create, beget, get, generate, fecundate, impregnate, procreate, progenerate, propagate, engender, bring into being, call into being, bring into existence, breed, hatch, develop, bring up, induce, superinduce, suscitate, cause, acquire.Inexcitability
VB be composed, laisser faire, laisser aller, take things easily, take things as they come, take it easy, rub on, live and let live, take easily, take cooly, take in good part, aequam servare mentem, bear the brunt, bear well, go through, support, endure, brave, disregard, tolerate, suffer, stand, bide, abide, aby, bear with, put up with, take up with, abide with, acquiesce, submit, submit with a good grace, resign oneself to, reconcile oneself to, brook, digest, eat, swallow, pocket, stomach, make light of, make the best of, make 'a virtue of necessity', put a good face on, keep one's countenance, check, check oneself, compose, appease (moderate), propitiate, repress, render insensible, overcome one's excitability, allay one's excitability, repress one's excitability, master one's feelings, make oneself easy, make one's mind easy, set one's mind at ease, set one's mind at rest, calm down, cool down, gentle, thaw, grow cool, be borne, be endured, go down.Moderation
VB be moderate, keep within bounds, keep within compass, sober down, settle down, keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail, moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy, attemper, contemper, mollify, lenify, dulcify, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund, sheathe, subdue, chasten, sober down, tone down, smooth down, weaken, lessen, check palliate, tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off, slake, curb, tame, smooth over, pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters, pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin, go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove.Music
VB compose, perform, attune.Musician
VB play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle, strike the lyre, beat the drum, blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn, doodle, grind the organ, touch the guitar, thrum, strum, beat time, execute, perform, accompany, sing a second, play a second, compose, set to music, arrange, sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle, sol-fa, intone, have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.For further exploring for "compose" in Webster Dictionary Online