compose
UK[kəmˈpəʊz]US[kəmˈpoʊz]
v
To write or create a piece of music, a poem, or a letter.
v
To form a whole by combining parts or elements.
v
To manage to control one's feelings or expression; to calm oneself.
Morpheme Breakdown
com
pose
com
together
pose
to place, put
Etymology
The word 'compose' entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'composer', which itself was built from Latin elements. The Latin prefix 'com-' (together) was combined with 'pōnere' (to place), though the French form altered the verb to 'poser'. The original Latin sense was 'to put together, arrange, or construct'. This literal meaning of assembling parts into an ordered whole evolved naturally into the modern abstract senses. Thus, to compose music is to arrange notes, to compose a letter is to arrange words, and to compose oneself is to bring one's emotions into a settled arrangement.
Analysis
Structure: com (together) + pose (to place, put)
- com: A Latin prefix meaning 'together', 'with', or 'altogether'. It is an assimilated form of 'cum' and functions as an intensifier or unifier in the word.
- pose: Derived from the Latin verb 'pōnere', meaning 'to place' or 'to put'. In English, it appears as a root in many words related to placing or positioning.
Examples
The musician took a year to compose his first symphony.
The committee was composed of experts from various fields.
She took a deep breath to compose herself before the important speech.