All 21 Uses of

compose
in
A Tale of Two Cities

He was quiet and attentive; watched the opening proceedings with a grave interest; and stood with his hands resting on the slab of wood before him, so composedly, that they had not displaced a leaf of the herbs with which it was strewn.†
Chpt 2.2

composedly = in a calm manner

"How long," demanded madame, composedly, "does it take to make and store the lightning?†
Chpt 2.16

In all other respects, however, he was so composedly himself, that Mr. Lorry determined to have the aid he sought.†
Chpt 2.19

he was hauled to the nearest street corner where one of the fatal lamps swung, and there Madame Defarge let him go—as a cat might have done to a mouse—and silently and composedly looked at him while they made ready, and while he besought her: the women passionately screeching at him all the time, and the men sternly calling out to have him killed with grass in his mouth.†
Chpt 2.22

Checking the postmaster, who was for turning his horse's head to the yard (the drunken patriot sat composedly in his saddle looking on, with the line round his wrist), Darnay said, as soon as he could make his voice heard: "Friends, you deceive yourselves, or you are deceived.†
Chpt 3.1

A face habitually suppressed and quieted, was still lighted up under the quaint wig by a pair of moist bright eyes that it must have cost their owner, in years gone by, some pains to drill to the composed and reserved expression of Tellson's Bank.†
Chpt 1.4

You see how composed he has become, and you cannot be afraid to leave him with me now.†
Chpt 1.6

The lion then composed himself on his back on a sofa on one side of the drinking-table, while the jackal sat at his own paper-bestrewn table proper, on the other side of it, with the bottles and glasses ready to his hand.†
Chpt 2.5

She hurries to him, and they go on together, walking up and down, walking up and down, until he is composed.†
Chpt 2.6 *

So, leaving only one light burning on the large hearth, he let his thin gauze curtains fall around him, and heard the night break its silence with a long sigh as he composed himself to sleep.†
Chpt 2.9

Here you see me!" said madame, composed as ever, but not knitting to-day.†
Chpt 2.21

Lucie, my child, if ever you were brave and serviceable in your life—and you were always both—you will compose yourself now, to do exactly as I bid you; for more depends upon it than you can think, or I can say.†
Chpt 3.2

I released her arms, and called the woman to assist me to compose her figure and the dress she had torn.†
Chpt 3.10

Nevertheless, it was not easy, with the face of his beloved wife fresh before him, to compose his mind to what it must bear.†
Chpt 3.13

And now, while he was composed, and hoped that he could meet the end with quiet heroism, a new action began in his waking thoughts, which was very difficult to master.†
Chpt 3.13

"Whatever housekeeping arrangement that may be," said Miss Pross, striving to dry her eyes and compose herself, "I have no doubt it is best that Mrs. Cruncher should have it entirely under her own superintendence.†
Chpt 3.14

The necessity of composing her appearance so that it should attract no special notice in the streets, was another relief.†
Chpt 3.14 *

She needed both advantages, for the marks of gripping fingers were deep in her face, and her hair was torn, and her dress (hastily composed with unsteady hands) was clutched and dragged a hundred ways.†
Chpt 3.14

But for you, dear stranger, I should not be so composed, for I am naturally a poor little thing, faint of heart; nor should I have been able to raise my thoughts to Him who was put to death, that we might have hope and comfort here to-day.†
Chpt 3.15

Definitions:

(1) (compose as in: compose a poem)
to write or create something with care
(2) (compose as in: composed of many parts)
to create something by arranging parts
(3) (compose as in: compose myself)
to calm someone or settle something
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

Specialized senses of compose include typesetting (preparing text for printing). There are many specialized senses of composition where context tells what something is made up from. Finally, in classic literature, compose may have been used to indicate settling a dispute.