# compose
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English composen, 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”).

### Pronunciation

* enPR: kəm-pōzʹ
** (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /kəmˈpəʊz/
** (General American, Canada) IPA: /kəmˈpoʊz/
*** Audio (California):(file)
** (General Australian) IPA: /kəmˈpəʉz/, /kəmˈpɐʉz/
** (New Zealand) IPA: /kəmˈpɐʉz/
* Rhymes: -əʊz

### Verb

compose (third-person singular simple present composes, present participle composing, simple past and past participle composed)
* (transitive) To make something by merging parts. [from later 15th c.]
    The editor composed a historical journal from many individual letters.
** December 22 1678, Thomas Sprat, A Sermon Preached before the King at White-Hall
    Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of all pious affection.
* (transitive) To make up the whole; to constitute.
    A church is composed of its members.
** 1741, I[saac] Watts, The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], →OCLC:A few useful things […] compose their intellectual possessions.
* (transitive, nonstandard) To comprise.
* (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.
** 1714, Alexander Pope, Imitation of Horace, Book II. Sat. 6:Let me […] compose / Something in Verse as true as Prose.
** 1838, Benjamin Haydon, Painting, and the fine arts:the genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper"
* (sometimes reflexive) To calm; to free from agitation.
    Try to compose your thoughts.
    The defendant couldn't compose herself and was found in contempt.
** 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:Compose thy mind; / Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
* To arrange the elements of a photograph or other picture.
* To settle (an argument, dispute etc.); to come to a settlement.
** 2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 280:By trying his best to compose matters with the mullahs, he had sincerely shown that he did not seek a violent collision […]
* To arrange in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition.
** 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:In a peaceful grave my corpse compose.
** 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:How in safety best we may / Compose our present evils.
* (printing, dated) To arrange (types) in a composing stick for printing; to typeset.

#### Synonyms

* (make up the whole): constitute, form, indite; see also Thesaurus:compose

#### Derived terms

* cocompose
* composability
* composable
* composer
* composing frame
* composing rule
* composing stick
* composite
* composition
* compositor
* composograph
* composure
* decompose
* discompose
* miscompose
* photocompose
* postcompose
* precompose
* recompose
* through-composed

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

## French
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /kɔ̃.poz/

### Verb

compose
* inflection of composer:
** first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
** second-person singular imperative

## Italian
### Verb

compose
* third-person singular past historic of comporre