composition

Noun

composition (countable and uncountable, plural compositions)

1. The act of putting together; assembly.
2. A mixture or compound; the result of composing.
   • Ste. What do'st thou know me for?
     Kent. A Knave, a Rascall, [...] one that would'st be a Baud in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a Kave, Begger, Coward, Pandar, and the Sonne and Heire of a Mungrill Bitch, one whom I will beate in to clamours whining, if thou deny'st the...c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
   • The firſt day of November was dedicated to the angel preſiding over fruits, ſeeds, &c. and was therefore named la mas ubhal, that is, the day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced lamasool, the English have corrupted the name to lambswool, a name they give to a compoſition made on this eve of...1786, “Of Allhallow Eve, Named by the Irish Oidhche Shamhna”, in Charles Vallancey, editor, Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis, volume III, Dublin: Luke White, pages 444-445

   Synonyms:

   composite

3. The proportion of different parts to make a whole.
   • And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 30:37
4. The general makeup of a thing or person.
   • John of Gaunt. O how that name befits my composition!
     Old Gaunt indeed, and gaunt in being old:
     Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast;
     And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt?1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to...
   • It seemed that the milk of human kindness had not been left out of his composition.1932, Frank Richards, The Magnet - Bunter's Night Out

   Synonyms:

   configuration

5. A puzzle created by the composer using chess pieces on a chessboard, which presents the solver with a particular task.
6. (obsolete) An agreement or treaty used to settle differences; later especially, an agreement to stop hostilities; a truce.
   • It will stoope and yeeld upon better compositions to him that shall make head against it.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 40, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC
   • If the Duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king.c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
7. (obsolete) A payment of money in order to clear a liability or obligation; a settling or fine.
   • He hath perverted a young gentlewoman here in Florence, of a most chaste renown; and this night he fleshes his will in the spoil of her honour: he hath given her his monumental ring, and thinks himself made in the unchaste composition.c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
   • That all and every person and persons already convicted or prosecuted in order to conviction of recusancy […] shall be thenceforth exempted and discharged from all the penalties, seizures, forfeitures, judgments, and executions, incurred by force of any of the aforesaid Statutes, without any...1688, Parliament of England, Toleration Act 1688, section 3
   1. (Singapore, obsolete) A payment of fine in order to settle a (usually minor) criminal charge.
8. an agreement or compromise by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.
9. An essay.
10. The formation of compound words from separate words.
11. A work of music, literature or art.
    • […] and how good Mrs. West could have written such books and collected so many hard words, with all her family cares, is still more a matter of astonishment. Composition seems to me impossible with a head full of joints of mutton and doses of rhubarb.1818, Jane Austen, A letter dated 8 September 1818
12. Typesetting.