[Sca-cooks] New compost recipe (long)

[Terry Decker]

I believe your compositus should be compositum.  "Compositum" is the neuter
past participle of "componere."  "Composita" is the feminine past participle
of "componere."  According to the quick ref, both appear as "composte" in
Old French and "compote" in Middle English; however, Johnna's reference to
the Middle English Dictionary reverses these.  It may be that the type of
mixture is originally defined by gender and required the use of two related
words in English, which is essentially genderless.

Bear


>Compost:  [English word, from ancient french Compost, from the latin
>compositus].  Mixture of dirt, organic garbage and lie, which transform
>itself little by little into dirt.
>
>Compote:  [from Latin composita, from componere, to put together]  Fruits,
>whole or cut in parts, cooked with sugar.
>
>Gorgeous Muiredach