▪ I. composing, vbl. n.
(kəmˈpəʊzɪŋ)
[f. compose v. + -ing1.]
1. The action of the verb compose (in its various senses).
| 1574 Whitgift Def. Aunsw. 364 (R.) The appeasing and composing of controversies and heresies. 1594 Bp. J. King Jonas (1618) 203 For the composing and attoneing of Christened kingdoms. 1663 Gerbier Counsel 23 The composing of a fit and easy Staires being a Masterpiece. 1688 Penn. Archives I. 103 For the composing of several disputes and differences. 1708 Hearne Collect. 4 Sept. II. 129 The Printers demand per sheet 14s. for composing. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. II. viii. 121 They sung..hymns of their own composing. 1873 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. 315 To Wordsworth, composing was a healthy exercise. |
2. Comb. (in sense 7 of the verb): composing-frame, the frame or stand at which a compositor stands; composing-machine, a machine for setting up type; composing-room, the room in which compositors work; (in quot. 1859) the room in which an author composes; composing-rule, a brass or steel rule against which the type is set in a composing stick, a setting-rule; composing-stand = composing-frame; composing-stick, an instrument (now of metal) of adjustable width, in which the type is set before being put on a galley.
| 1737 London Mag. Oct. 552/1, 7 Persons enter'd the Printing-House in Bow-street; 3 of whom rush'd up Stairs, and coming into the *Composing-Room, one of them spoke to Mr. Haines. 1824 J. Johnson Typogr. II. 222 The press-room should, if possible, be separated from the composing-room. a 1859 De Quincey Wks. (1863) II. 137 The poet's study and composing room. 1889 Pall Mall G. 14 Nov. 2/3 Mr. Boyle began in the composing-room and ended in the editorial chair. |
| 1679 Plot Staffordsh. (1686) 358 It makes the half of an oblong right-angled parallelepiped cut diagonally, being somewhat like the *composing stick of a Printer. 1882 Blades Caxton 123 The composing-sticks were originally of hard wood, without any sliding adjustment. |
▪ II. comˈposing, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That composes; esp. tranquillizing, soothing, sedative, as a composing draught.
| 1644 Sir E. Dering Prop. Sacr. B iij, A composing third way was my wish. 1646 Crashaw Steps to Temple 60 The sweet peace of all-composing night. 1796 Lamb Let. to Coleridge 3 Oct., I may dismiss immediately both doctor and apothecary, retaining..a composing draught or so for a while. 1860 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. III. 37 To take three composing draughts a day. |