\begin{definition}[Definition:Composition of Mappings/General Definition]
Let $f_1: S_1 \to S_2, f_2: S_2 \to S_3, \ldots, f_n: S_n \to S_{n + 1}$ be mappings such that the domain of $f_k$ is the same set as the codomain of $f_{k - 1}$.
Then the '''composite of $f_1, f_2, \ldots, f_n$''' is defined and denoted as:
{{begin-eqn}}
{{eqn | q = \forall x \in S_1
      | l = \map {\paren {f_n \circ \cdots \circ f_2 \circ f_1} } x
      | o = :=
      | r = \begin {cases} \map {f_1} x & : n = 1 \\ \map {f_n} {\map {\paren {f_{n - 1} \circ \cdots \circ f_2 \circ f_1} } x} : & n > 1 \end {cases}
      | c = 
}}
{{eqn | r = \map {f_n} {\dotsm \map {f_2} {\map {f_1} x} \dotsm}
      | c = 
}}
{{end-eqn}}
\end{definition}