The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Compose \Com*pose"\ (k[o^]m*p[=o]z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Composed; p. pr. & vb. n. Composing.] [F. composer; com-
   + poser to place. The sense is that of L. componere, but the
   origin is different. See Pose, v. t.]
   1. To form by putting together two or more things or parts;
      to put together; to make up; to fashion.
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            Zeal ought to be composed of the highest degrees of
            all pious affection.                  --Bp. Sprat.
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   2. To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to
      constitute.
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            Their borrowed gold composed
            The calf in Oreb.                     --Milton.
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            A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual
            possessions.                          --I. Watts.
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   3. To construct by mental labor; to design and execute, or
      put together, in a manner involving the adaptation of
      forms of expression to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or
      proportion; as, to compose a sentence, a sermon, a
      symphony, or a picture.
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            Let me compose
            Something in verse as well as prose.  --Pope.
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            The genius that composed such works as the
            "Standard" and "Last Supper".         --B. R.
                                                  Haydon.
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   4. To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in
      proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
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            In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. --Dryden.
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            How in safety best we may
            Compose our present evils.            --Milton.
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   5. To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to
      soothe; to calm; to quiet.
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            Compose thy mind;
            Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   6. (Print.) To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order
      for printing; to set (type).
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Compose \Com*pose"\, v. i.
   To come to terms. [Obs.] --Shak.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

compose
    v 1: form the substance of; "Greed and ambition composed his
         personality"
    2: write music; "Beethoven composed nine symphonies" [syn:
       compose, write]
    3: produce a literary work; "She composed a poem"; "He wrote
       four novels" [syn: write, compose, pen, indite]
    4: put together out of existing material; "compile a list" [syn:
       compose, compile]
    5: calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet; "She had to
       compose herself before she could reply to this terrible
       insult"
    6: make up plans or basic details for; "frame a policy" [syn:
       frame, compose, draw up]