compose Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb form the substance of
- Greed and ambition composed his personality
verb write music
write.
- Beethoven composed nine symphonies
verb produce a literary work
write; pen; indite.
- She composed a poem
- He wrote four novels
verb put together out of existing material
compile.
- compile a list
verb calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet
- She had to compose herself before she could reply to this terrible insult
verb make up plans or basic details for
draw up; frame.
- frame a policy

F. composer; com- + poser to place. The sense is that of L. componere, but the prigin is different. See Pose, v. t.

imperfect & past participle Composed ; present participle & verbal noun Composing

To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion.
Zeal ought to be composed of the hidhest degrees of all pious affection. Bp. Sprat.
To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute.
Their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb. Milton.

A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions. I. Watts.
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.
Let me compose Something in verse as well as prose. Pope.

The genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper". B. R. Haydon.
To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. Dryden.

How in safety best we may Compose our present evils. Milton.
To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet.
Compose thy mind; Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed. Dryden.
(Print.) To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type).