composition
    n 1: the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of
         parts in relation to each other and to the whole;
         "harmonious composition is essential in a serious work of
         art" [syn: composition, composing]
    2: the way in which someone or something is composed [syn:
       constitution, composition, physical composition,
       makeup, make-up]
    3: a mixture of ingredients
    4: a musical work that has been created; "the composition is
       written in four movements" [syn: musical composition,
       opus, composition, piece, piece of music]
    5: musical creation [syn: composing, composition]
    6: the act of creating written works; "writing was a form of
       therapy for him"; "it was a matter of disputed authorship"
       [syn: writing, authorship, composition, penning]
    7: art and technique of printing with movable type [syn:
       typography, composition]
    8: an essay (especially one written as an assignment); "he got
       an A on his composition" [syn: composition, paper,
       report, theme]
    9: something that is created by arranging several things to form
       a unified whole; "he envied the composition of their faculty"

Composition \Com`po*si"tion\, n. [F. composition, fr. L.
   compositio. See Composite.]
   1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or
      integral, by placing together and uniting different
      things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses:
      (a) The invention or combination of the parts of any
          literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as,
          the composition of a poem or a piece of music. "The
          constant habit of elaborate composition." --Macaulay.
      (b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the
          different parts of a work of art as to produce a
          harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as
          such. See 4, below.
      (c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as
          English, Latin, German, etc.
      (d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for
          printing.
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   2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction;
      combination; adjustment.
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            View them in composition with other things. --I.
                                                  Watts.
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            The elementary composition of bodies. --Whewell.
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   3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances;
      as, a chemical composition.
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            A composition that looks . . . like marble.
                                                  --Addison.
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   4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially
      one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used
      of an elementary essay or translation done as an
      educational exercise.
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   5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.]
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            There is no composition in these news
            That gives them credit.               --Shak.
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   6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement
      of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or
      conditions of settlement; agreement.
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            Thus we are agreed:
            I crave our composition may be written. --Shak.
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   7. (Law) The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an
      obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between
      the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation
      agreed upon in the adjustment.
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            Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood.
                                                  --Hallam.
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            Cleared by composition with their creditors.
                                                  --Blackstone.
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   8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis.
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            The investigation of difficult things by the method
            of analysis ought ever to precede the method of
            composition.                          --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.
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   Composition cloth, a kind of cloth covered with a
      preparation making it waterproof.

   Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a
      debtor and several creditors.

   Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two
      individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved
      positions.

   Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single
      force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in
      effect to two or more given forces (called the components)
      when acting in given directions. --Herbert.

   Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is
      sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; --
      also called Muntz metal and yellow metal.

   Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four
      proportionals so that the sum of the first and second is
      to the second as the sum of the third and fourth to the
      fourth.
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composition

   1. function composition.

   2. typesetting.

COMPOSITION, contracts. An agreement, made upon a sufficient consideration, 
between a debtor and creditor, by which the creditor accepts part of the 
debt due to him in satisfaction of the whole. Montagu on Compos. 1; 3 Co. 
118; Co. Litt. 212, b; 4 Mod. 88; 1 Str. 426; 2 T. R. 24, 26; 2 Chit. R. 
541, 564; 5 D. & R. 56 3 B. & C. 242; 1 R. & M. 188; 1 B. & A. 103, 440; 3 
Moore's R. 11; 6 T. R. 263; 1 D. & R. 493; 2 Campb. R. 283; 2 M. & S. 120; 1 
N. R. 124; Harr. Dig. Deed VIII. 
     2. In England, compositions were formerly allowed for crimes and 
misdemeanors, even for murder. But these compositions are no longer allowed, 
and even a qui tam action cannot be lawfully compounded. Bac. Ab. Actions 
qui tam, See 2 John. 405; 9 John. 251; 10 John. 118; 11 John. 474; 6 N. H.-
Rep. 200.