composture

composture

English

Etymology

compost +‎ -ure

Noun

composture (countable and uncountable, plural compostures)

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. (obsolete) A kind of plaster.