composture

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French composture (“compost”), from late Old French composture, possibly from Latin compositūra, compostūra (“composition”); equivalent to compost +‎ -ure. Compare Portuguese compostura, Spanish compostura.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kəmˈpɒst͡ʃə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /kəmˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/

Noun

composture (countable and uncountable, plural compostures) (obsolete)

1. Compost, composted manure.
   • 1607, Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, Act 4 Scene 3:

     The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves
     The moon into salt tears; the earth's a thief,
     That feeds and breeds by a composture stolen
     From general excrement, each thing's a thief.

2. Composition, makeup, formation.
3. A kind of plaster.

References

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Composture”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume II (C), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 738, column 2.