composition

plural compositions

1. countableuncountableThe act of putting together; assembly.
2. countableuncountableA mixture or compound; the result of composing.First known use 16th c.

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   Ste. What do'st thou know me for? Kent. A Knave, a Rascall, [...] one that would'st be a Baud in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a Kave, Begger, Coward, Pandar, and the Sonne and Heire of a Mungrill Bitch, one whom I will beate in to clamours whining, if thou deny'st the least sillable of thy addition.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 291, column 2

   The firſt day of November was dedicated to the angel preſiding over fruits, ſeeds, &c. and was therefore named la mas ubhal, that is, the day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced lamasool, the English have corrupted the name to lambswool, a name they give to a compoſition made on this eve of roaſted apples, ſugar, and ale.

   1786, “Of Allhallow Eve, Named by the Irish Oidhche Shamhna”, in Charles Vallancey, editor, Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, volume III, Dublin: Luke White, pages 444-445

   Synonyms: composite

3. countableuncountableThe proportion of different parts to make a whole.First known use 14th c.

   And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 30:37

4. countableuncountableThe general makeup of a thing or person.First known use 14th c.

   It seemed that the milk of human kindness had not been left out of his composition.

   1932, Frank Richards, The Magnet - Bunter's Night Out

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   John of Gaunt. O how that name befits my composition! Old Gaunt indeed, and gaunt in being old: Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast; And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt?

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene 1]

   Discussion acknowledged the Network's difficulty in transforming its mostly white composition into a more multi-racial organization.

   1982 December 4, Sharon Page, “R2N2 Conference: Revitalizing the Movement”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 20, page 3

   Synonyms: configuration

5. countableuncountableboard gamesA puzzle created by the composer using chess pieces on a chessboard, which presents the solver with a particular task.
6. countableobsoleteuncountableAn agreement or treaty used to settle differences; later especially, an agreement to stop hostilities; a truce.First known use 14th–19th c.

   It will stoope and yeeld upon better compositions to him that shall make head against it.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 40, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

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   If the Duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], lines 1-3

   That now Sweno, the Norways’ king, craves composition: Nor would we deign him burial of his men Till he disbursed at Saint Colme’s inch Ten thousand dollars to our general use.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   with an incredible courage they advanced to the push of the Pike with the defendants, that with the like courage repulsed[…], that the Turks retired and fled into the Castle, from whence by a flag of truce they desired composition.

   1630, John Smith, True travels, Kupperman, published 1988, page 50

   […] the Britons, by rendering the war thus bloody, seemed determined to cut off all hopes of peace or composition with the enemy.

   1754, David Hume, The History of England, volume I, London: T. Cadell, published 1773, page 8

7. countableobsoleteuncountableA payment of money in order to clear a liability or obligation; a settling or fine.First known use 16th–19th c.

   Insidious death! should his strong hand arrest, No composition sets the prisoner free.

   1742, [Edward Young], “Night the Second. On Time, Death, Friendship. […]”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], and T[homas] Cooper, […], →OCLC

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   He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

   That all and every person and persons already convicted or prosecuted in order to conviction of recusancy […] shall be thenceforth exempted and discharged from all the penalties, seizures, forfeitures, judgments, and executions, incurred by force of any of the aforesaid Statutes, without any composition, fee, or further charge whatsoever.

   1688, Parliament of England, Toleration Act 1688, section 3

   1. SingaporecountableobsoleteuncountablelawA payment of fine in order to settle a (usually minor) criminal charge.
8. countableuncountablelawan agreement or compromise by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.
9. countableuncountableAn essay.First known use 16th c.
10. countableuncountablehuman sciencesThe formation of compound words from separate words.First known use 16th c.
11. countableuncountableA work of music, literature or art.First known use 17th c.

    […] and how good Mrs. West could have written such books and collected so many hard words, with all her family cares, is still more a matter of astonishment. Composition seems to me impossible with a head full of joints of mutton and doses of rhubarb.

    1818, Jane Austen, A letter dated 8 September 1818

12. countableuncountablemediaTypesetting.First known use 19th c.
13. countableuncountablemathematicsApplying a function to the result of another.
14. countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe compounding of two velocities or forces into a single equivalent velocity or force.
15. countableobsoleteuncountableConsistency; accord; congruity.

    There is no composition in these news That gives them credit.

    c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]

16. countableuncountableSynthesis as opposed to analysis.

    The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition.

    1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC

17. countableuncountablepaintingartsThe arrangement and flow of elements in a picture.
18. countableuncountableobject-oriented programmingWay to combine simple objects or data types into more complex ones.
19. countableuncountablevideo gamesThe characters, roles, weapons, etc. being used by a team.

    team composition

    1 more example

    weapon composition