Main Entry: ¹com·pound

Pronunciation: \käm-ˈpau̇nd, kəm-ˈ, ˈkäm-ˌ\

Function: 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

— com·pound·able \-ˈpau̇n-də-bəl, -ˌpau̇n-\ adjective

— com·pound·er noun