3 meanings, 5 uses
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1 —3 uses as in:
compose a poem
Definition
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
- Finally, a letter arrived, composed by Harvey and dictated to a nurse from his hospital bed.p. 255.9
composed = written
Other Uses (with this meaning)
- That night on the raft, in words composed in his head, never passing his lips, he pleaded for help.p. 136.5
- He composed another message to his family, then rode with the producers to Tokyo.p. 259.2
composed = written
composed = wrote
There are no more uses of "compose" flagged with this meaning in Unbroken by Hillenbrand.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
2 —1 use as in:
composed of many parts
Definition
to create something by arranging parts; or to be those parts
- ...this preliminary list was composed of those accused of the worst crimes, including list-topper Hideki Tojo, mastermind of Pearl Harbor and the man on whose orders POWs had been enslaved and starved, and Masahuru Homma, who was responsible for the Bataan Death March.p. 334.9
composed = made up
There are no more uses of "compose" flagged with this meaning in Unbroken by Hillenbrand.
Typical Usage
(best examples)
3 —1 use as in:
keep your composure
Definition
to calm someone or settle something
- When she pulled up at her parents' house, she had to compose herself before she walked in.p. 138.9
compose = calm
There are no more uses of "compose" flagged with this meaning in Unbroken by Hillenbrand.
Typical Usage
(best examples)