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compositus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word compositus

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Terence
Ultimate origin
Latin (pōnō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kɔmˈpɔ.sɪ.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [komˈpɔː.s̬i.tus][1]

Forms

compositus (feminine composita, neuter compositum, comparative compositior); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is the perfect participle of compōnō “to put together, arrange”, and is also found as ⟨compostus⟩ and ⟨conp-⟩.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for the adjective is from Terence, of what is orderly.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Terence 190–159 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant composed of several parts, complex, composite, as in Seneca, and in Varro of compound words.[2] It meant orderly, tidy, of a battle fought with troops disposed, as in Livy, and of speeches and writers well arranged, as in Cicero, and in Ovid studied.[2] It meant disposed, trained, and of the sea calm, of persons placid, sedate, as in Ovid, and in Cicero well disciplined, law-abiding.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant comely, well arranged, orderly, ready.[4] Medieval Latin used it of land under cultivation.[5] Through Old French composte it gave English compost and English compote, and English composite came about 1400.[6]

Timeline

  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of the orderly.[2][3]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of compound words.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of well-arranged speech.[2][3]
  • c. 1400 – English composite is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Composite, compound.[2]
  2. Orderly; of a battle, organized.[2]
  3. Well arranged; studied.[2]
  4. Disposed, trained.[2]
  5. Calm, placid, composed.[2]
  6. Well-disciplined.[2]

Word family

  • compositē
  • compositum

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  5. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Compositus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/compositus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·