Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM'PO-SITE, a.

In architecture, the Composite order is the last of the five orders of columns; so called because its capital is composed out of those of the other orders or columns, borrowing a quarter-round from the Tuscan and Doric, a row of leaves from the Corinthian, and volutes from the Ionic. Its cornice has simple modillions or dentils. It is called also the Roman or the Italic order. – Encyc. Composite numbers are such as can be measured exactly by a number exceeding unity, as 6 by 2 or 3; so that 4 is the lowest composite number. Composite numbers between themselves, are those which have a common measure besides unity; as 12 and 15, both which are measured by 3. – Encyc.