compono

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kɔmˈpoː.noː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [komˈpɔː.no]^[1]

Forms

compōnō (present infinitive compōnere, perfect active composuī or composīvī, supine compositum or compostum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from con- (“together”) and pōnō “to put, place”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus and Cato, of storing things up and of placing things together.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to place things together, to store up, and to match or compare one person or thing with another, as in Accius.^[2] It meant to settle in a place, to lay out for burial, as in Catullus, and to arrange in order, dispose, as in Cato, also to draw up troops.^[2] It meant to construct or put together, and to compose or write a book or speech, as in Cicero, or draw up laws.^[2]

It also meant to plan or contrive, as Plautus' treachery, to fabricate a charge, and to compose one's expression.^[2] It meant to calm, make still, as in Virgil, to quell a rising, and to settle disputes, as Caesar's ending a war on terms.^[2] The participle has a short form compostus.^[2][5]

It survives in Italian comporre and Spanish componer.^[1] English compound came in the late 14th century through Old French compondre, English compost through Old French composte from its participle, and English component in the 1640s.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of storing up and of contriving.^[2][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of placing and arranging.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of writing.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of ending a war on terms.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English compound is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To put together, place side by side.^[2]
2. To store up, collect.^[2]
3. To match; to compare.^[2]
4. To settle; to lay out for burial.^[2]
5. To arrange, set in order; to draw up (troops).^[2]
6. To construct, put together.^[2]
7. To compose, write.^[2]
8. To plan; to contrive, fabricate.^[2]
9. To calm, quell.^[2]
10. To settle (a dispute), reconcile.^[2]

Word family

• compositīcius
• compositiō
• compositiuus
• compositor
• compositum
• compositūra
• dēcompositus
• incompositus
• praecompositus
• recompōnō

Related words

• pōnō
• English compound
• English component
• English compost

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press