All 50 Uses of
compose
in
Bleak House
- An exhausted composure, a worn-out placidity, an equanimity of fatigue not to be ruffled by interest or satisfaction, are the trophies of her victory.†
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1) *
- I thought he was very strange, or at least that what I could see of him was very strange, for he was wrapped up to the chin, and his face was almost hidden in a fur cap with broad fur straps at the side of his head fastened under his chin; but I was composed again, and not afraid of him.†
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)
- You will not be discomposed by the Lord Chancellor, I dare say?†
Chpt 1-3 (definition 1)
- Mrs. Jellyby merely added, with the serene composure with which she said everything, "Go along, you naughty Peepy!" and fixed her fine eyes on Africa again.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- To see that composed court yesterday jogging on so serenely and to think of the wretchedness of the pieces on the board gave me the headache and the heartache both together.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- As substitutes, I had four angels, of Queen Anne's reign, taking a complacent gentleman to heaven, in festoons, with some difficulty; and a composition in needlework representing fruit, a kettle, and an alphabet.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2)
- Mr. Skimpole could play on the piano and the violoncello, and he was a composer—had composed half an opera once, but got tired of it—and played what he composed with taste.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2) *
- Mr. Skimpole could play on the piano and the violoncello, and he was a composer—had composed half an opera once, but got tired of it—and played what he composed with taste.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- Mr. Skimpole could play on the piano and the violoncello, and he was a composer—had composed half an opera once, but got tired of it—and played what he composed with taste.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 1)
- But I thought, occasionally, when Mr. Skimpole played some fragments of his own compositions or when, both at the piano and the violoncello, and at our table, he preserved with an absence of all effort his delightful spirits and his easy flow of conversation, that Richard and I seemed to retain the transferred impression of having been arrested since dinner and that it was very curious altogether.†
Chpt 4-6 (definition 2)
- Even to this hour, Mrs. Rouncewell's calm hands lose their composure when she speaks of him, and unfolding themselves from her stomacher, hover about her in an agitated manner as she says what a likely lad, what a fine lad, what a gay, good-humoured, clever lad he was!†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- Mrs. Pardiggle, who had been regarding him through her spectacles with a forcible composure, calculated, I could not help thinking, to increase his antagonism, pulled out a good book as if it were a constable's staff and took the whole family into custody.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- No effort had been made to clean the room—it seemed in its nature almost hopeless of being clean; but the small waxen form from which so much solemnity diffused itself had been composed afresh, and washed, and neatly dressed in some fragments of white linen; and on my handkerchief, which still covered the poor baby, a little bunch of sweet herbs had been laid by the same rough, scarred hands, so lightly, so tenderly!†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- He was not only a very handsome old gentleman—upright and stalwart as he had been described to us— with a massive grey head, a fine composure of face when silent, a figure that might have become corpulent but for his being so continually in earnest that he gave it no rest, and a chin that might have subsided into a double chin but for the vehement emphasis in which it was constantly required to assist; but he was such a true gentleman in his manner, so chivalrously polite, his face was…†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- Then I arranged my desk, and put everything away, and was so composed and cheerful that I thought I had quite dismissed this unexpected incident.†
Chpt 7-9 (definition 1)
- "I believe I and my family have also had the honour of furnishing some entertainment in the same grave place," said my guardian composedly.†
Chpt 13-15 (definition 1)
- "The oddity of the thing is," said Mr. Skimpole with a quickened sense of the ludicrous, "that my chairs and tables were not paid for, and yet my landlord walks off with them as composedly as possible.†
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- Such stillness and composure reigned within the orderly precincts of the old red wall that even the feathers hung in garlands to scare the birds hardly stirred; and the wall had such a ripening influence that where, here and there high up, a disused nail and scrap of list still clung to it, it was easy to fancy that they had mellowed with the changing seasons and that they had rusted and decayed according to the common fate.†
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- Not content with these precautions, Mr. Boythorn had himself composed and posted there, on painted boards to which his name was attached in large letters, the following solemn warnings: "Beware of the bull-dog.†
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- She remained perfectly still until the carriage had turned into the drive, and then, without the least discomposure of countenance, slipped off her shoes, left them on the ground, and walked deliberately in the same direction through the wettest of the wet grass.†
Chpt 16-18 (definition 1)
- Much discomposed in her nerves (which were previously in the best order) by this threat, she so fearfully mutilates that point of state as to announce "Mr. and Mrs. Cheeseming, least which, Imeantersay, whatsername!" and retires conscience-stricken from the presence.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- The account is now favourably balanced: my creditor has accepted a composition.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 2)
- "I am well known to be prudent," says Mr. George, composedly smoking.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- Mr. George, still composedly smoking, replies, "If I had, I shouldn't trouble them.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- "For two good names, hey?" says Mr. George, shaking his head and still composedly smoking.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- "Of our friend in the city?" suggests Mr. George, composedly drinking.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- Penetrating to the heart of this region, he arrives by a court and a long whitewashed passage at a great brick building composed of bare walls, floors, roof-rafters, and skylights, on the front of which, if it can be said to have any front, is painted GEORGE'S SHOOTING GALLERY, &c.†
Chpt 19-21 (definition 1)
- Yet this third person stands there with his attentive face, and his hat and stick in his hands, and his hands behind him, a composed and quiet listener.†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)
- For the most part Mr. Bucket notices things in general, with a face as unchanging as the great mourning ring on his little finger or the brooch, composed of not much diamond and a good deal of setting, which he wears in his shirt.†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)
- But when I stole a glance at her and saw her so composed and distant and unapproachable, I felt this to be a foolish weakness.†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)
- Mrs. Jellyby continued to open and sort letters and to repeat occasionally in quite a charming tone of voice and with a smile of perfect composure, "No, indeed."†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)
- …and to think of the waste, and want, and beggared misery it represented; to consider that while the sickness of hope deferred was raging in so many hearts this polite show went calmly on from day to day, and year to year, in such good order and composure; to behold the Lord Chancellor and the whole array of practitioners under him looking at one another and at the spectators as if nobody had ever heard that all over England the name in which they were assembled was a bitter jest, was…†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)
- When this was at last done, and addressing Mr. George as "General," she gave him her arm, to the great entertainment of some idlers who were looking on, he was so discomposed and begged me so respectfully "not to desert him" that I could not make up my mind to do it, especially as Miss Flite was always tractable with me and as she too said, "Fitz Jarndyce, my dear, you will accompany us, of course."†
Chpt 22-24 (definition 1)
- Mrs. Chadband composes herself grimly by the fire and warms her knees, finding that sensation favourable to the reception of eloquence.†
Chpt 25-27 (definition 1)
- "For a pipe," says Mr. George, who with great composure sets his chair in the chimney-corner, takes his pipe from the grate, fills it and lights it, and falls to smoking peacefully.†
Chpt 25-27 (definition 1)
- The kit of the mess, if the table furniture may be so denominated, is chiefly composed of utensils of horn and tin that have done duty in several parts of the world.†
Chpt 25-27 (definition 1)
- This, in effect, is Mr. Bagnet's opinion, as delivered through the old girl, and it so relieves Mr. George's mind by confirming his own opinion and banishing his doubts that he composes himself to smoke another pipe on that exceptional occasion and to have a talk over old times with the whole Bagnet family, according to their various ranges of experience.†
Chpt 25-27 (definition 1)
- Addressing her composed face, whose intelligence, however, is too quick and active to be concealed by any studied impassiveness, however habitual, to the strong Saxon face of the visitor, a picture of resolution and perseverance, my Lady listens with attention, occasionally slightly bending her head.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)
- He sees my Lady pretty often, too; and he and she are as composed, and as indifferent, and take as little heed of one another, as ever.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)
- My Lady reclines in her chair composedly, though with a trifle less of graceful ease than usual perhaps, and never falters in her steady gaze.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)
- He sees her consciousness return, sees a tremor pass across her frame like a ripple over water, sees her lips shake, sees her compose them by a great effort, sees her force herself back to the knowledge of his presence and of what he has said.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)
- So he came down and sat in my lap; and Mrs. Jellyby, after saying, in reference to the state of his pinafore, "Oh, you naughty Peepy, what a shocking little pig you are!" was not at all discomposed.†
Chpt 28-30 (definition 1)
- And unless you are as quiet and composed for me as you always were for yourself, you can never fulfil it, Charley.†
Chpt 31-33 (definition 1)
- He goes downstairs, and Mr. Guppy tries to compose himself before the fire for waiting a long time.†
Chpt 31-33 (definition 1)
- My poor little visitor made me a present of the account, and when as the evening began to close in she rose to take her leave, lest she should miss the coach by which she was to return, she was still full of the shipwreck, which I had not yet sufficiently composed myself to understand in all its details.†
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)
- I knew the worst now and was composed to it.†
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)
- She gave me her hand, and its deadly coldness, so at variance with the enforced composure of her features, deepened the fascination that overpowered me.†
Chpt 34-36 (definition 1)
- The difficulty that I felt in being quite composed that first evening when Ada asked me, over our work, if the family were at the house, and when I was obliged to answer yes, I believed so, for Lady Dedlock had spoken to me in the woods the day before yesterday, was great.†
Chpt 37-39 (definition 1)
- I haven't got the ruled accountbook, I have none of the tax-gathering elements in my composition, I am not at all respectable, and I don't want to be.†
Chpt 37-39 (definition 2)
- The same formal politeness, the same composed deference that might as well be defiance; the whole man the same dark, cold object, at the same distance, which nothing has ever diminished.†
Chpt 40-42 (definition 1)
Definitions:
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(1) (compose as in: compose myself) to calm someone or settle something
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(2) (compose as in: compose a poem) to write or create something with care -- especially music or a literary work, but could be other things as diverse as a plan or a letter