Composition

(kom-po-zish'un.) [L. compositio, a placing together.] In a general sense, the putting together and uniting of several things, so as to form of the whole one ma or compound. (Iit.) The act of inventing or combining ideas, furnishing them with words, arranging them in order, and committing them to writing.-(Print.) See COMPOSING.-(Log.) A method of reasoning by which we unite together the qualities of anything, one after another, until we have distinguished it from everything else. Thus, " man is an animal: he is a hot-blooded animal: he is a hot-blooded viviparous animal: he is a hot-blooded viviparous rational animal. " C., or synthesis, is exactly the opposite of analysis: one puts together, the other takes in pieces. -(Mus.) The act or art of forming tunes, to be performed either vocally or instrumentally.-(Law.) An agreement entered into between an insolvent debtor and his creditor by which the latter accepts a part of the debt in compensation for the whole.-(Chem.) The combination of different substances, from which results a compound substance, differing in properties from any of its component parts. Thus, water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, which are invisible gases. (Math) Synthesis, as opposed to analysis.(Gram.) The joining of two words together, or prefixing a particle to a word, to augment, diminish, or alter its signification.-(Paint.) The putting together the several parts of a picture, so as to set off the whole to the best advantage. [s. 213]