Verb
To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion.
To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute.
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.
To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet.
To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type).
To come to terms.
Source: Webster's dictionaryI don't compose. I assemble materials. Aaron Copland
Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation. Graham Greene
Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a positive nuisance to you. Gustav Holst
We lie to one another every day, in the sweetest way, often unconsciously. We dress ourselves and compose ourselves in order to present ourselves to one another. John le Carré
If they cut off both hands, I will compose music anyway holding the pen in my teeth. Dmitri Shostakovich
I never force myself to be devout except when I feel so inspired, and never compose hymns of prayers unless I feel within me real and true devotion. Franz Schubert