Both Uses of
compose
in
Jacob Have I Loved
- "It's good to be back," Call said, covering the old man's discomposure.†
Chpt 16 *discomposure = an unsettled state of mind (nervous or uncomfortable)standard prefix: The prefix "dis-" in discomposure reverses the meaning of composure. This is the same pattern as seen in words like disagree, disconnect, and disappear.
- I jumped off the bed and tried to compose myself before our small streaky mirror.†
Chpt 11
Definitions:
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(1)
(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
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(2)
(compose as in: composed of many parts) to create something by arranging parts; or to be those parts
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(3)
(compose as in: compose myself) to calm someone or settle something
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(4)
(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.