All 6 Uses of
compose
in
The Aeneid
- Since," said the god, "the Trojans must not join In wish'd alliance with the Latian line; Since endless jarrings and immortal hate Tend but to discompose our happy state; The war henceforward be resign'd to fate: Each to his proper fortune stand or fall; Equal and unconcern'd I look on all.†
Book 10 *discompose = unsettle (make nervous or uncomfortable)standard prefix: The prefix "dis-" in discompose reverses the meaning of compose. This is the same pattern as seen in words like disagree, disconnect, and disappear.
- Sad cypress, vervain, yew, compose the wreath, And ev'ry baleful green denoting death.†
Book 4
- Or, if by dearer ties you may be won, By your dead sire, and by your living son, Redeem from this reproach my wand'ring ghost; Or with your navy seek the Velin coast, And in a peaceful grave my corpse compose; Or, if a nearer way your mother shows, Without whose aid you durst not undertake This frightful passage o'er the Stygian lake, Lend to this wretch your hand, and waft him o'er To the sweet banks of yon forbidden shore.†
Book 6
- To whom the Sibyl thus: "Compose thy mind; Nor frauds are here contriv'd, nor force design'd.†
Book 6
- Let now your immature dissension cease; Sit quiet, and compose your souls to peace.†
Book 10
- Ocnus was next, who led his native train Of hardy warriors thro' the wat'ry plain: The son of Manto by the Tuscan stream, From whence the Mantuan town derives the name An ancient city, but of mix'd descent: Three sev'ral tribes compose the government; Four towns are under each; but all obey The Mantuan laws, and own the Tuscan sway.†
Book 10
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
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(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.