English → Latin
“compose” in Latin
compōnōto arrange, compile, compose, make up, organize, order; to construct, build; to pacify, allay, settle, calm, appease, quiungōto join, unite, fasten, yoke, harness, attach; esp. of the hand: to clasp, join; of a treaty or agreement: to join, unitconiungōto bind together, connect, join, unite, yoke together, juxtapose; to compose or form by uniting; to associate; to unite cōpulōto bind or tie together, unite, join, couple; to associate with; to connectōrdinōto arrange, put in order, organize; to rule, govern; to ordain, appoint to officeredigōto drive, lead, or bring back; to call in, collect, raise, receive; to reduce to a certain statedispōnōto dispose, distribute or arrangedīgerōto distribute, disseminate; to spread, branch out, disperse; to arrange, organize, classify; digestcollocōto place, put, set in order, assign, arrange; to put together, assemble; to settlecōnstituōto place, put, locate, lay; to set up, establish, constitute, found; to build, erect, construct
The English word compose itself goes back to Latin pōnō, through componere.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
compose
to bring into connexion: componere (to combine to one whole): jungere, conjungere (general term for combine): copulare (to join together); inter se jungere copulareque; or copulando jungere.
To compose as a musician: modos facere: modos musicos componere (after Quint., 1, 12, 14): to compose an air, cantum rescribere vocum sonis (Cic., Tusc., 4, 2, 3); musicis modis canticum excipere (Quint. and others).
To arrange: ordinare (general term): in ordinem adducere or redigere. disponere. digerere: in ordinem digerere. componere: collocare: constituere [SYN. in ARRANGE].
To be composed of, or formed of, etc., constare: man is composed of soul and body, homo constat (ex) animo et corpore or e corpore constat et animo; hominum genus compositum est ex animo et corpore.
To compose as an author: scribere: conscribere (to compose by writing): componere (to place together with order, and art; all with reference to any writing, librum): concipere, with or without verbis (to shape in words, for which there was a form existing previously; e.g., an oath, jusjurandum: an edict, edictum: a petition, libellum. ☞ It is only in similar instances that concipere can be used; never in speaking of original productions of the mind): to compose verses, versus facere or scribere; versus fundere (as an impromptu): to compose extempore verses, ex tempore versus fundere.
Mechanically by types: *typis or litterarum formis describere (e.g., a book, librum):
To settle amicably; e.g., differences, etc., componere: dirimere: cum bona gratia componere: controversias componere, minuere (the latter in Caes., B.G., 7, 23, Herzog).
To calm: tranquillare (e.g., animos): sedare (to make quiet, to appease; e.g., anger, etc.): placare (to assuage): permulcere (to appease by caresses, etc.): lenire (to cause to abate, e.g., anger, fear, etc.): to compose anybody’s mind by exhortations, remonstrances, etc., alicujus animum verbis confirmare: by consolations, aliquem solari; aliquem or animum alicujus consolatione lenire, permulcere. to become composed, acquiescere; consolatione se lenire (by consoling one’s self).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for compose?
- The usual Latin words for “compose” are compōnō, iungō, coniungō; also cōpulō, ōrdinō, redigō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.