composure
(kəmˈpəʊʒ(j)ʊə(r))
[This word, with disposure, exposure, appeared about 1600; appar. of English formation, from compose, dispose, expose, by form-association with enclose, enclosure, or other words in which the formation was etymological, repr. L. -sūra: see -ure.]
Formerly used in nearly all the senses of composition: now only as in sense 10.
I. As an action: composition, compounding.
† 1. The action or process of composing, constructing, arranging, forming; composition. Obs.
| 1609 Heywood Brit. Troy xii. xlii, His orbicular Targe..Which Vulcan by deuine Composure made. 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 3 He hath free power in the composure of his Physick. 1699 Evelyn Acetaria (1729) 145 The Composure of a Sallet. 1699 J. Woodward in Phil. Trans. XXI. 193 Matter whereof those Bodies consist..received..for the Composure of others. |
† 2. Intellectual production; literary, musical, or artistic composition.
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. i. iv, Demosthenes..In the composure of all his exquisite, and mellifluous orations. 1624 Bolton Nero 201 Hee..addicted himselfe to the composure of verses. 1694 W. Holder Harmony Introd., The Masters of Harmonick Composure, and the skilful Artists in Performance. 1765 T. Hutchinson Hist. Col. Mass. iii. 381 One of the ministers..had a remarkable talent for very quick and sudden composures. |
† 3. Compounding, mixing, combination. Obs.
| 1715 M. Davies Ath. Brit. i. 292 The present English Tongue..made up of the Mixture and Composure of the Ancient-Saxon, Anglo-Saxon, and Occasional Terms of all other Languages. |
† 4. A composing or adjusting, esp. of differences or disputes; agreement, settlement. Obs.
| 1640–4 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 309 A good Issue..expected by the amicable way of Treaty and Composure. 1645 E. Pagitt Heresiogr. (1661) 299, 140 Members of the House of Commons, known..to have voted for a Composure with the King. 1694 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 392 Matters are not yet ripe for composure. 1709 Stanhope Paraphr. IV. 192 The composure of those Troubles, by the appearance of an Angel. |
† 5. A composition (with creditors). Obs.
| 1679 Lond. Gaz. No. 1408/4 The Proposals lately made by him for a Composure with his Creditors. |
II. As a resulting state or condition.
† 6. Composition, constitution, or construction, esp. as to its mode. a. generally. Obs.
| 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) Ep. Salut. 2 The composure and order of the first methodical Surgeons Chest. 1660 Sharrock Vegetables Ep. Ded., As to the form and composure of matter. 1670–98 R. Lassels Voy. Italy I. 115 The whole composure of this altar and tabernacle being the height of wit and riches..you [cannot] admire sufficiently. c 1720 W. Gibson Farrier's Guide ii. ii. (1738) 7 Inequality in the Blood's Composure. 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. iii. 131 A whole..in whose composure just The acquiescent and recipient side Was Pietro's, and the stirring striving one Violante's. |
† b. of the human frame and its parts. Obs.
| 1628 Feltham Resolves ii. xxxvii, No man had euer power to order Nature in his owne composure. a 1635 Naunton Fragm. Reg. (Arb.) 57 Of a most neat composure, and tall in his person. a 1716 Bp. O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. 275 Such is the Composure of the Eye. |
† c. Personal constitution, temperament. Obs.
| 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. i. iv. 22 His composure must be rare indeed, Whom these things cannot blemish. c 1665 Mrs. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson 24 In all his natural and ordinary inclinations and composure, there was something extraordinary. 1705 Vanbrugh Confed. i. ii, Of so happy a composure to care a fig for no body. 1715 J. Barker Exilius II. 136 She is of a Composure, both of Mind and Person, above any Thing below a Scipio. |
† 7. Mode of disposing or arranging; posture, pose. Obs.
| 1628 Earle Microcosm., Discont. Man (Arb.) 27 His composure of himself is a studied carelessnesse with his armes a crosse, and a neglected hanging of his head. 1658 Sir T. Browne Gard. Cyrus ii, The ..Tomb..was in the form of a Lozenge; readily made out by the composure of the body. |
† 8. Form or style: a. literary; b. musical. Obs.
| 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) A b, The harsh composure and conveyance of the stile. a 1638 Mede Wks. i. xvi. 59 In a Poetical strain and composure. 1641 Vind. Smectymnuus §2. 40 Neither for matter nor for composure subject to just exception. 1659 Evelyn Diary 5 May, A new opera..in recitative music and sceanes, much inferior to the Italian composure and magnificence. 1734 Watts Reliq. Juv. xxvi, It is..by a warm composure, that some of the French preachers reign over their assemblies. |
† 9. Composed or settled condition of affairs; public quietness or tranquillity. Obs.
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. (1843) 27/2 There..followed so excellent a composure throughout the whole kingdom, that the like peace and Plenty..was never enjoyed. 1767 Gen. Conway in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 519 IV. 508 Everything is in a profound tranquillity..except in Poland, where I hope..that affairs will soon come to a composure. |
10. Composed condition of mind, feelings, or demeanour; tranquillity, calmness, collectedness. (The extant sense.)
| 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 272 To whom the Virgin Majestie of Eve..With sweet austeer composure thus reply'd. 1725 Pope Odyss. xix. 448 With cool composure feign'd, the Chief replies. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 193 ¶10 We sit down with great composure and write a letter to ourselves. 1838 Lytton Leila i. ii, An eye and lip of rigid composure. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 34 Greek serenity and composure of spirit. |
III. As a concrete product.
† 11. A composed fabric or structure material or immaterial; a made up whole, a combination, structure, composition. Obs.
| 1609 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. iii. 109 (Qo.) It was a strong composure [Folios counsell] ..a foole could disunite. 1613–6 W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. iii, Nor will the needle nor the loome.. such composures make of silke and gold. 1619 Judgmt. Synode Dort 54 A patched composure of Stoicisme, Manicheisme, Libertinisme, and Turcisme. 1733 Cheyne Eng. Malady ii. v. §5 (1734) 159 Food..fitted for Use, without the artful Composures of Cookery. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 387 Gross composures of flesh and blood like ourselves. |
† 12. A literary, musical, or artistic composition.
| a. 1603 Drayton Odes ii. 37 In my choise Composures The soft and easie Closures..amorously shall meet. 1721 R. Keith tr. T. à Kempis' Vall. Lilies Pref. 1 Two of the genuine Composures of..Thomas a Kempis. 1771 Orton Disc. to Aged Pref. 4 The composures of my honoured fathers. |
| b. 1660 Waterhouse Arms & Arm. To Rdr., The notes of a good composure melodious to musical eares. 1732 Historia Litt. IV. 97 Metastasio, known by his Opera's and other Composures. |
| c. 1668 Evelyn tr. Freart's Idea Painting 8 The Project of a more finished Composure. 1704 J. Elsum Art Paint. 32 The Colours..are ill managed in working..which is enough to spoil the whole Composure. |