A person who sets type and arranges pages for printing, or a person who writes musical compositions.
From Latin 'compositor' (one who puts together), from 'componere' (com- 'together' + ponere 'to place'). Originally referred to those who composed text for printing.
Before computers, compositors were crucial artisans—they had to understand typography, spacing, and design while hand-setting thousands of tiny metal letters backward, and a single error meant resetting entire pages; Gutenberg's invention made compositors some of the most skilled workers in Europe.
Compositor historically referred to male typesetters and printers; female typesetters were rare in male-dominated printing trades and when present, often called 'compositoress' or excluded from titles.
Use 'typesetter', 'compositor', or 'layout artist' without gendered modifiers. Gender-neutral term 'compositor' is now standard in typography.
["typesetter","layout artist","print technician"]
Women compositors like Harriet Putnam and others contributed significantly to 19th-century printing despite occupational exclusion and wage discrimination.
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