in the United States of America, 46% 
COMPOSUIST ; a writer, composer; as, He isa good composuist. This ex- 
traordinary word has been much used at some of our colleges, but -_ sel- 
dom elsewhere. It is now rarely heard among us. 
To COMPROMIT ; to ‘commit, expose, hazard. The government compro- 
mitted itself. ‘The minister compromitted the welfare of his country. 
- This word is not used by American writers only, but is perhaps more 
~ common with them than with English authors. It occurs frequently in the 
official letters whieh have been published by our government, and may per- 
haps, like the French verb compromettre, from which we derive it, be con- 
- sidered as an authorised diplomatic term. The English verb to commit 
(which, though not to be found in sAis sense in any of the dictionaries ex- 
cept Walker’s, is now generally adopted) seems to Pender: this word un- 
prager ‘See Wailker’s remarks on it. 
- This verb is much used in New iin in conversation, 
without the rebel ptonoun: Ex. He conducts well, instead of, he con- 
ducts himself well. It is frequently used in this manner also by our writ- 
ers: “ There were times when he was obliged to exert all his fortitude, 
prudence, and candour #o conduct so as not to give offence.” Eliot’s New 
' England Biograph. Dictionary, p. 29. But this « corrupt idiom” (as an 
* 
i» 
entirely excluded the correct - 
English traveller justly calls it) isnot so. omy. Sct here, as to have 
orrect English © sf will conduct your- 
se/f in the office of an attorney,” &c. pug 8 Se in Massachusetts 
Stat. of 1785, c. 23.. And in the valuable work of Dr. Ex just cited, the 
verb is sometimes used «with, as well as without, the. pronoun : “ No man 
could have conducted himself in this office better.” p. 14. It is also con-. 
stantly used with the pronoun in. a late work, of a New England scholar, of 
great purity of style ; “ In every thing which is innocent or indifferent they 
Should permit him to conduct himself by his own discretion.” . Sermons on 
particular occasions, Boston, 1812, p.14, The writers of G. Britain i inva- 
riably use it in this manner. “ But in what manner will the. ‘House cone. 
: duct itself 2” Fox’ 8 Hist. James 4p. 228 They took and pillaged. sev- 
me ‘eral cities, conducting themselves all the while, in. ‘such a manner,” &e. 
ice at se 
_ Robertson's Charles V, yo). ii. p. 359. Dr, Johnson also defines the verb. 
_ behave, in these words—« to conduct one’ s-self ;”’ and he further remarks,. 
