comprise

Etymology

From Middle English comprisen, from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre, from Latin comprehendere, contr. comprendere, past participle comprehensus (“to comprehend”); see comprehend. Compare apprise, reprise, surprise.

verb

1. (transitive) To be made up of; to consist of (especially a comprehensive list of parts).
   The whole comprises the parts.
   The parts are comprised by the whole.
   Arsenal were playing without a recognised full-back - their defence comprising four centre-halves - and the lack of width was hindering their progress. December 10, 2011, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1-0 Everton”, in BBC Sport
2. (sometimes proscribed, usually in the passive) To compose">compose; to constitute.
   The whole is comprised of the parts.
   The parts comprise the whole.
   1657, Isaac Barrow, Data (Euclid) (translation), Prop. XXX "Seeing then the angles comprised of equal right lines are equal, we have found the angle FDE equal to the angle ABC."
3. To contain or embrace.
   Our committee comprises a president, secretary, treasurer and five other members.
4. (patent law) To include, contain, or be made up of, defining the minimum elements, whether essential or inessential to define an invention.
   Coordinate term: compose (close-ended)