recomposev.
/ˌriːkəmˈpəʊz/, U.S. /ˌrikəmˈpoʊz/ 1. † b. transitive. To compose (a text) again. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To put (something) together again; to form again by composition. Also intransitive.Often contrasted with decompose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [verb (transitive)] > construct > again or anew
re-edifya1425
repairc1425
new-build1480
rebuilda1525
re-erect1579
re-edificea1601
recompack1602
recompose1611
recast1625
repiece1642
reconstitute1759
restructure1932
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Recomposer, to recompose, to frame anew.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Humble Motion to Parl. 6 These..industries that endeavour to gather them up, and..recompose them.
1664 R. Boyle Exper. & Considerations Colours iii. xiv. 227 We were able to produce a lovely Purple, which we can Destroy or Recompose at pleasure.
1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 337 To take to Pieces, recompose, and ascertain our Evidences.
1777 J. Priestley Disquis. Matter & Spirit xiii. 161 Whatever is decomposed, may be recomposed by the being who first composed it.
a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) I. vi. 97 The far greater number of the objects presented to our observation, can only be decomposed, but not actually recomposed.
1861 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. (1869) III. v. 389 Fire and water..can really destroy nothing, but can only decompose and recompose.
1931 Sci. News Let. 19 171/1 The composition of boracic acid is no longer problematical. In fact we decompose and we recompose this acid at will.
1994 E. L. Doctorow Waterworks 200 He was recomposing their lives piece by piece.
ΚΠ
1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso i. lxxxiv. 172 The chiefest Litterati of Parnassus desire Apollo that Tacitus may re-compose those Books of his Annals, and Histories which are lost.
1683 tr. Eusebius Hist. Church v. viii. 78 He inspired Esdras the Priest of the tribe of Levi to recompose all the books of the former Prophets, and restore to the people the Law delivered by Moses.
1732 tr. C. Cadiere et al. Sequel Proc. Mary Catherine Cadiere (ed. 2) 197 Either these Letters were like that of July 22, or like those which he has recomposed.
1788 J. Priestley Def. Unitarianism vi. 107 I fancy..that some Pere Hardouin has recomposed all the christian Fathers, and all the other books relating to ecclesiastical history.
c. transitive. To put together again in a new form or manner; to rearrange; to rewrite (a text).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > put in (proper) order [verb (transitive)] > reduce to order > give structure to or organize > reorganize
reorganize1686
recompose1798
reformulate1869
realign1910
restructure1932
rejig1948
reorg1989
1798 D. Rivers Lit. Mem. Living Authors II. 272 This performance [sc. an epic poem]..was finished in six weeks; and on its improved plan in ten books, was almost entirely recomposed during the time of printing.
1816 2nd Rep. Comm. Public Rec. App. ⁋5 The old Titles have in most Cases been re-composed.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 144 The change was not confined to the officers alone. The ranks were completely broken up and recomposed.
1861 G. W. Thornbury Life J. M. W. Turner II. 326 Turner never imitated Salvator Rosa—because he had rocks and torrents of his own to go and copy and recompose from.
1976 A. Brendel Musical Thoughts & Afterthoughts 92 Why did Liszt spend much time and effort recomposing other people's music?
1994 NewMedia Aug. 27/1 Photoshop..frees the artist to recompose and rework any part of an image without affecting other sections.
2007 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 10 May 34 Not afraid to recompose extensively when the piano textures are thin.., Matthews has also worked wonders translating the effect of the sustaining pedal into orchestral terms.
2. transitive. To restore to composure; to settle. Also reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)]
softa1225
stilla1325
coolc1330
accoya1375
appeasec1374
attemperc1386
lullc1386
quieta1398
peasea1400
amesec1400
assuagec1400
mesec1400
soberc1430
modify?a1439
establish1477
establish1477
pacify1484
pacify1515
unbrace?1526
settle1530
steady1530
allay1550
calm1559
compromitc1574
restore1582
recollect1587
serenize1598
smooth1604
compose1607
recompose1611
becalm1613
besoothe1614
unprovokea1616
halcyon1616
unstrain1616
leniate1622
tranquillize1623
unperplexa1631
belull1631
sedate1646
unmaze1647
assopiatea1649
serenate1654
serene1654
tranquillify1683
soothe1697
unalarm1722
reserene1755
quietize1791
peacify1845
quieten1853
conjure1856
peace1864
disfever1880
patise1891
de-tension1961
mellow1974
the mind > emotion > calmness > compose oneself [verb (reflexive)]
stilla1325
spakea1400
amesec1400
soft?a1500
stay1537
recollect1595
collect1602
compose1607
recompose1611
to reassume oneself1635
relax1685
summon1745
mellow1974
centre1980
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Ricomporre, to recompose, or resettle.
1638 E. Reynolds Medit. Last Supper xix. 194 The Spirit of God..helpeth us to reade the evidence of it, and thus recomposeth our troubled thoughts.
1655 Theophania 92 * When we had recomposed our selves..we sate in the Cabin descanting thereon.
1700 W. Congreve Way of World iii. i. 35 I shall never recompose my Features, to receive Sir Rowland with any Oeconomy of Face.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xvi. vii. 59 Our Spirits when disordered are not to be recomposed in a Moment. View more context for this quotation
1815 C. Lloyd tr. V. Alfieri Myrrha in Tragedies 298 I myself, Soon as the tears are from my eyes dispersed, And my face recomposed, will thither come.
1889 R. L. Stevenson Master of Ballantrae iii. 71 Having by this means secured a little breath and recomposed our appearance, we strolled down at last, with a great affectation of carelessness, to the party by the fire.
1901 R. Kipling Kim viii. 197 He lay down again, taking care that the whisperers should hear his grunts and groans as he recomposed himself.
1998 Chicago Sun-Times 14 Oct. 127/3 While we saw irritability and outright anger on Mr Tyson's part on several occasions..he was able to recompose himself.
3. transitive. To restore to harmony; to reconcile. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1650 Bp. J. Taylor Rule & Exercises Holy Living iv. 352 We must before every Communion especially, remember what differences or jealousies are between us and any one else; and recompose all disunions.
1669 W. Charleton Mysterie of Vintners in Two Disc. 171 The tumult will..be recomposed, the liquor refined.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. II. 332 A man who..was the most likely to recompose the quarrels in the church.
1997 Irish Times (Nexis) 30 Apr. 8 Culture..is the very medium in which battle is engaged, rather than some Olympian terrain on which our differences can be recomposed.
Derivatives
recomˈposed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > [adjective] > creating or constructing again > created or constructed again
re-edificate?a1475
regenerate?1536
re-exstruct1594
re-edified1595
recreated1612
rebuilt1647
recomposed1658
regenerated1758
reconstructed1834
recreate1855
recompact1868
1658 J. Coles tr. G. de Costes de La Calprenède Hymen's Preludia: 7th Pt. vii. i. 50 The King being well pleased to see me a little recomposed, confirmed his promise to me.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Recomposition The recomposed body shall not be distinguishable by the senses from that which never had been separated by the fire.
1862 D. T. Ansted & R. G. Latham Channel Islands ii. xi. 293 Boulders formed out of a recomposed rock.
1979 Washington Post (Nexis) 17 Dec. c2 ‘We is the champions of the Central Division,’ a recomposed John McKay said after a week of chastising media for suggesting his charges were ‘chokers’.
2004 Vogue Living (Austral.) May–June 16 (advt.) Crafted from recomposed quartz and marble, Stone Italiana slabs combine the natural quality of stone with advanced technology.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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