compound

I. verb Etymology: Middle English compounen, from Anglo-French *cumpundre, from Latin componere, from com- + ponere to put — more at position Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to put together (parts) so as to form a whole ; combine <

compound ingredients

> 2. to form by combining parts <

compound a medicine

> 3. a. to settle amicably ; adjust by agreement b. to agree for a consideration not to prosecute (an offense) <

compound a felony

> 4. a. to pay (interest) on both the accrued interest and the principal b. to add to ; augment <

we compounded our error in later policy — Robert Lekachman

> intransitive verb 1. to become joined in a compound 2. to come to terms of agreement • compoundable adjective • compounder noun II. adjective Etymology: Middle English compouned, past participle of compounen Date: 14th century 1. composed of or resulting from union of separate elements, ingredients, or parts: as a. composed of united similar elements especially of a kind usually independent <

a compound plant ovary

> b. having the blade divided to the midrib and forming two or more leaflets on a common axis <

a compound leaf

> 2. involving or used in a combination 3. a. of a word constituting a compound b. of a sentence having two or more main clauses III. noun Date: 1530 1. a. a word consisting of components that are words (as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care) b. a word (as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixes 2. something formed by a union of elements or parts; especially a distinct substance formed by chemical union of two or more ingredients in definite proportion by weight IV. noun Etymology: by folk etymology from Malay kampung group of buildings, village Date: 1679 a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences