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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Compone, v. Also: compon(n. [ME. (rare) compone (1398), L. compōnere.]

1. tr. a. To compound from various substances. 1456 Hay II. 135/20.
To compone a medicyne that he suld us[e] 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 156.
The counsell … ordaines that no [person] … tack upon hand … to brew, compone, vent or sell aill, bear, or strong waters

b. To compose, make by combination. a1500 Henr. Orph. 115.
Of thir sex … fyve hevynly symphonyis Componyt ar 1533 Boece x. ix. 369 b.
Mony Pichtis regions … resauit new namys componit of Scottis and Pichtis termes c1590 Fowler 114/64.
With his silogismes vntrew & fals [which] he did compone 1602 Colville Parænese 43.
If it be trev that the trev church is compond of the elect 1622-6 Bisset II. 51/3.
Candredus … is componed of twa langages, Brytishe and Erishe

c. To compose in speech or writing. Also absol. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 74/7.
Suppos his tounge and langage be faire … and well componit a1568 Bann. Bann. MS. 234 b/55.
This my style inornetly compond Eschamys my pen 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 9.
Thay salbe constranit … dayly to compone sum smal thyng eftyr thair capaciteabsol. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 8.
The principale … sal cause thame to compone, and examine thayme Ib. 10.
Componing on themis ditit be … other maisters

d. To bring to composure or quiet. 1513 Doug. viii. vi. 121.
Lern to dar contemp welth and riches, And do thi self compone a1568 Bann. MS. 212 a/3.
O foly hairt, … Compone thy self and lat thi sychin be 1591 Bruce Sermons S. 2 a (J).
Gif the external reverence … bee of sic force, that it will make thee to compone thy gesture, and refraine thy tongue

2. intr. To come to an agreement (with another for something); to compound or settle a matter by making payment or otherwise.(1) 1471 Ann. Banff I. 21.
Thai sal not compone, appewnt, dispone, nor mak assedatione of ony thing [etc.] 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 169.
Efter as he and we componys and contentis us a1500 Prestis of Peblis 285.
The lele man to compone will nocht consent, Becaus he wait he is ane innocent 1537 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii. 15.
We … hes componit and gottin gratitud fra him tharfor 1570 Sat. P. x. 294.
Than come he north schortly, he tuke na rest, Till all that countrie had componit and drest 1569-73 Bann. Mem. 215.
Some hes dressed and componet privatlie 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Iter (N 3 b).
The crowner sall haue for his fee, for ilk man amerciat or componand, ane colpindach 1622-6 Bisset II. 104/2.
Gif thair be diverse … executouris, ane of thame without consent of the rest may nocht compone 1666 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 127.
Forceing some of them, though innocent, to compon and give them moneyes(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1263.
Fra the crownar haif laid on him his wand, … Slane sall he be, or with the iuge compone 1480 Acta Conc. 74/1.
To schew that he has componit with our souuerain lord for the said ferme 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 210/1.
For the quhilk thai componit with the thesaurare for vi^c merkis to be payt to him thairfore 1535 Acts II. 345/1.
It sall nocht be lesum to the thesaurar … to compone … with the brekaris of the saidis actis for less than the pane and vnlaw contenit in the samin 1556 Reg. Cupar A. II. 228.
Componit with Pattoun Gallowey for ane v ȝeris tak 1579 St. A. Baxter Bks. ii.
That the decanis of thair craft sal nawayis compone withe thame, quhill the person … first compone with the said deinis of gild 1595 Conv. Burghs I. 465.
The complaint … aganis the brughis … for owerseing and componeing with vnfremen … to by and sell woll c 1610 Burnett of Leys 38.
It is a mater not inventit … that my Lord Burleyth … may stapp or seik geir aff pairteis and compone with thame 1670 Peebles B. Rec. II. 81.
The deacone of the websteris hes caused Iohn Thomsone, … compone with them as to his trade, without consent of the magistrattes 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xx. § 1.
Angus Mackintosh … had componed with a thief who had stolen some meal from him(3) 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 2.
Componit for the warde and mariage of the air of Ja. Sandilandis 1531 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 143.
That the segstar raise nocht pathtment for na liaris within the kirk, of thame that suld compone for thair layer 1535 Stewart 45312.
Haiffand … the power of Ingland Trewis til tak, … And to compone for all thing moir and les 1547 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 252.
That he … vse nocht na priuilege of the said burgh … quhill he compone of new agane for his fredome a1578 Pitsc. I. 27/12.
He compellit thame to compone for thair sellffis 1604 Stirling B. Rec. I. 110.
To ressave the threttie ane stand of armour quhilk the Toun hes componit for with Johne Jamesoun

3. tr. To bring to agreement; to settle (disputes, etc.). 1533 Boece xiii. viii. 516.
Iugis … quhilk tak all actiouns & compone amang the pepill al materis debatabill 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 127.
Willing him to compone and agrie the mater 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 4 b.
Thai lauborit all in vane to compone the dissension of religion 1596 Dalr. I. 132/33. Ib. 204/14.
Quhen al things in Yrland war weil componed Ib. II. 93/1.
The mater now thiswise componet, the Lord of the Iles returnis 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1399.
Which querrell to compone … Uncessantlie he seeks

4. To compound (a payment) for a certain sum. 1579 Misc. Bann. C. II. 203.
The quot is componit for xvj lib. Ib.
The quot of this testament is componit for fyve punds 1588 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 427.
Summa of the inuentar … Quhairof the quot is componit for xij lib. c 1633 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 124.
That all the perpetual censes which wer placed upon that ground … are componed