- composition
- late 14c., "action of combining," also "manner in which a thing is composed," from Fr. composicion (13c.) "composition, make-up, literary work, agreement, settlement," from L. compositionem, noun of action from componere (see composite). Meaning "art of constructing sentences" is from 1550s; that of "literary production" (often also "writing exercise for students") is from c.1600. Printing sense is 1832; meaning "arrangement of parts in a picture" is from 1706.