3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Compose  \Com*pose"\,  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. 
 
  Zeal  ought  to  be  composed  of  the  highest  degrees  of 
  all  pious  affection.  --Bp.  Sprat. 
 
  2.  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  4.  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. 
 
  5.  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. 
 
  6.  (Print.)  To  arrange  (types)  in  a  composing  stick  in  order 
  for  printing;  to  set  (type). 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Composing  \Com*pos"ing\,  a. 
  1.  Tending  to  compose  or  soothe. 
 
  2.  Pertaining  to  or  used  in  composition. 
 
  {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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  composing 
  n  1:  the  spatial  property  resulting  from  the  arrangement  of  parts 
  in  relation  to  each  other  and  to  the  whole;  "harmonious 
  composition  is  essential  in  a  serious  work  of  art"  [syn: 
  {composition}] 
  2:  musical  creation  [syn:  {composition}] 

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