Part 410

4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise.

5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.]

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

6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement.

Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written. Shak.

7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment.

Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. Hallam.

Cleared by composition with their creditors. Blackstone.

8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis.

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

Composition cloth, a kind of cloth covered with a preparation making it waterproof. -- Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a debtor and several creditors. -- Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions. -- Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions. Herbert. -- Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called Muntz metal and yellow metal. -- Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four proportionals so that the sum of the first and second is to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth.

Com*pos"i*tive (?), a. [L. compositivus.] Having the quality of entering into composition; compounded. [R.]

Com*pos"i*tor (?), n. [L., an arranger.] 1. One who composes or sets in order.

2. (Print.) One who sets type and arranges it for use.

Com*pos"i*tous (?), a. (Bot.) Belonging to the CompositŠ; composite. [R.] Darwin.

Com*pos"si*ble (?), a. [Pref. com- + possible.] Able to exist with another thing; consistent. [R.] Chillingworth.

Com"post (?; 277), n.[OF. compost, fr. L. compositus, p. p. See Composite.] 1. A mixture; a compound. [R.]

A sad compost of more bitter than sweet. Hammond.

2. (Agric.) A mixture for fertilizing land; esp., a composition of various substances (as muck, mold, lime, and stable manure) thoroughly mingled and decomposed, as in a compost heap.

And do not spread the compost on the weeds To make them ranker. Shak.

Com"post, v. t. 1. To manure with compost.

2. To mingle, as different fertilizing substances, in a mass where they will decompose and form into a compost.

Com*pos"ture (?; 135), n. [L. compositura, -postura, a joining.] Manure; compost. [Obs.] Shak.

Com*po"sure (?), n. [From Compose.] 1. The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition. [Obs.]

Signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure [in music] and teaching. Evelyn.

2. Orderly adjustment; disposition. [Obs.]

Various composures and combinations of these corpuscles. Woodward.

3. Frame; make; temperament. [Obs.]