compositor's case
- noun
- /kəmˈpɒzɪtərz keɪs/
- Archaic
:
caja de compositor
- The apprentice learned to arrange the type in the compositor's case before setting it on the press.
Examples
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She admired the old compositor's case on display at the print museum.
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The compositor's case was filled with various types of letters.
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A complete compositor's case was essential for producing printed materials quickly and accurately.
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He carefully arranged the letters in the compositor's case.
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The apprentice learned to arrange the type in the compositor's case before setting it on the press.
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He carefully arranged the letters in the compositor's case to prepare for printing.
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She admired the old compositor's case on display at the print museum.
Synonyms
64
8.6
A box with small spaces for holding letters used in old printing
A shallow tray with small spaces for holding metal letters used in printing
A box with small sections for holding letters used in printing
Surface Forms
Morphology
compositor's + case
This is a straightforward possessive composition: 'case' means a compartmented box and 'compositor's' indicates the box belongs to or is used by a compositor, so the combined meaning ('a compartmented box used by a compositor for typesetting') is directly derivable. Note that 'compositor' is specialized vocabulary and may be unfamiliar to some B1 learners, but given knowledge of both constituents the phrase is predictable.
Etymology
Compositor's case names the case, a box, that a 'compositor' used to keep the small pieces of type in separate compartments. Because each letter had its own place for quick picking, the box itself became known as the 'compositor's case'.