composer
(kəmˈpəʊzə(r))
[f. compose v. + -er1. Cf. F. composeur.]
1. a. One who puts together or combines into a whole; one who fashions or constructs. rare.
| 1644 Bp. Williams Rights of Kings (1662) 43 (T.) To be the composers. contrivers, or assistants, in concluding of any ecclesiastical law. 1657 May Satir. Puppy 40 Farewell Poetry; thou trim Composer of disjuncted Sense. a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xxxiii. 278 Composers of green Arbours. 1699 Evelyn Acetaria (1729) 146 A wise man is the proper composer of an excellent Sallet. |
† b. A mixer or mingler.
Obs.| 1561 J. Daus tr. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573) 58 a, These composers or mongerels with their temperature and mixture. |
† c. A component, a constituent part.
Obs.| 1610 Markham Masterp. i. iv. 11 Humours..are the third composers of a horses body. |
2. One who composes a literary work; an author or writer.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 101 Like unto composers of Tragedies. 1644 Milton Educ., Able writers and composers in every excellent matter. 1818 Parr Wks. (1828) VIII. 646 Instances in which great critics have shewn themselves not very correct composers. 1863 J. G. Murphy Comm. Gen. iii. 21 Moses being not the mere collector, but the composer of the documents contained in Genesis. |
3. One who composes music. (The usual sense, when used without defining additions.)
| 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 181 Some wil be good descanters..and yet wil be but bad composers. 1644 Milton Educ., The well studied chords of some choice composer. 1691 Dryden Albion & Alb. Pref., The Composer Monsieur Grabut..has so exactly express'd my sense..that he seems..to have been the Poet as well as the Composer. 1880 Grove Dict. Mus. I. 413/1 Mr. Cowen is also the composer of many popular songs. 1883 Rockstro Life Handel xxviii, The greatest Composer in the world. |
4. One who arranges or groups according to the laws of artistic composition;
† a designer.
| 1723 Lond. Gaz. No. 6171/7 Henry Shallcross late of Morden..Composer to the Callicoe Factory there. 1836 Emerson Nature, Beauty Wks. (Bohn) II. 145 As the eye is the best composer, so light is the first of painters. |
† 5. One who sets up type, a compositor.
Obs.| 1634 Harington Salernes Regiment Pref. 4 The faults of the Composer and Correcter shall neyther be excused nor accused by mee. 1637 Laud Let. in Hist. Chancellorsh. Oxf., The procuring of a sufficient composer, and corrector, for the Eastern languages. 1708–15 Kersey Compositor, a Printer's Composer, that sets the Matter. |
6. A person or thing that adjusts, settles, tranquillizes, etc.
| 1649 Hammond Serm. Matt. xi. 30 Wks. 1684 IV. 479 Seeking out those great composers of the soul. 1711 Gay Rural Sports 11, Ye murm'ring streams..The sweet composers of the pensive soul. 1735 R. James Canine Madness (1760) 156 [Musk] is a great composer, and excellent in convulsions. 1827 Earl of Shaftesbury in Life (1886) I. ii. 72 Yesterday read ‘Watson's Apology’..an everlasting composer for busy Deists and wounded faith. |
7. Comb., in appositive use, as (sense 3)
composer-arranger,
composer-conductor.
| 1955 Keepnews & Grauer Pict. Hist. Jazz xxi. 278 Composer-arranger Jack Montrose. 1959 ‘F. Newton’ Jazz Scene vi. 110 Bands can have a distinctive ‘sound’,..mixed by the composer-arranger from the colours of the individual musicians. |
| 1938 Times 30 Apr. 10/3 The acclamations which were offered to the composer-conductor. |