composer

Forms

composer^[1] Anglo-Norman had the same spelling composer from the early 12th century.^[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin compōnō (“to put together, arrange”), adapted after poser.^[3][4][5] The Latin verb is formed from cum (“with”) and pōnō (“to place, put”).^[3][6] Bloch and Wartburg explain the French form by the stem seen in some forms of the Latin verb, such as compositus.^[7] Littré calls it a hybrid, Latin in sense but modelled on the French verb in form, since a straight descendant of the Latin verb would have ended like pondre, from the simple verb.^[8] The FEW accordingly files it under Latin pausō (“to halt, rest”), the etymon of the French verb.^[9][2] Wiktionary describes it as an Old French compound of the prefix and the verb, adapting the Latin verb.^[1]

The Latin verb meant both to make a whole of various elements and to settle a dispute, senses that French took over.^[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1120 in the Oxford Psalter, figuratively, rendering Latin concinnant: forcenneries les vos mains composent “your hands devise violence”.^[3][8][6]

Semantic evolution

The sense “to put together into a whole” first appeared in an abstract context; it lives on in the writing of a treaty or a book (late 14th century, Froissart), of music (1508) and in printing, of setting type (1531).^[3][4] By extension composer son visage (Amyot, 1559) is to put on an appearance, and in schools composer is to sit a written test (1690).^[3][4]

The intransitive sense “to negotiate, come to terms” (1354–1376) is a semantic loan from Latin; it passed from the language of diplomacy (composer avec l'ennemi, late 15th century) to general use (composer avec les préjugés, late 18th century).^[4][3] The past participle composé took special senses in grammar (1549), architecture (1567), arithmetic and chemistry (1721).^[3][4]

Timeline

• c. 1120 – First recorded in the Oxford Psalter.^[3][6]
• 1354–1376 – Modus et Ratio uses it for “to negotiate, come to terms”.^[3][4]
• late 14th century – Froissart writes composer un traictié.^[3]
• 1508 – Used of a musical work.^[3][4]
• 1531 – Used of setting type, at Avignon.^[3][4]
• 1549 – Du Bellay uses composé for a compound word.^[3][4]
• 1559 – Amyot writes composer son visage.^[3][4]
• 1690 – Furetière records the school sense “to sit a written test”.^[3][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To form by putting parts together, to assemble or make up: composer un bouquet.^[10][11]
2. To dial a telephone number or enter a code.^[10][1]
3. Of parts: to make up, constitute a whole.^[10][1]
4. To create a work, to write: composer une chanson.^[10][3]
5. To write music, to compose, also absolutely.^[10][1]
6. (printing) To set a text in type, now by photocomposition.^[10][3]
7. To put on an appearance or attitude: composer son visage.^[10][3]
8. (intransitive) To come to terms, compromise: composer avec ses adversaires.^[10][1]
9. (intransitive) Of pupils: to sit a written test.^[10][3]
10. Se composer de: to consist of.^[10]

Word family

• décomposer
• décomposition
• recomposer
• surcomposé
• composé
• composant

Related words

• composite
• compositeur
• composition
• compost
• compote
• poser
• Latin compōnō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
9. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 65b
10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
11. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)