user-dependent compose combinations

Does anyone have instructions as to how to add compose key combinations for an individual user? I have seen quite several mutually-exclusive methods that are purported to work, but I haven't had any success here. Here is the current situation (which does not work): $ locale LANG=en_US.UTF-8 Following the man page for Compose, I have the following ~/.XCompose file, which should (according to the man page) import the system-wide Compose file for my locale, and add one extra entry (for testing purposes): ---- include "%L" # import the default Compose file for your locale <Multi_key> <asterisk> <asterisk> : "⁂" asterism # ASTERISM ---- But when I try to enter a compose sequence, it seems that only the ones in the system-wide file are used. For example, the system file /usr/share/X11/locale/en_US.UTF-8/Compose has the following lines: ---- <Multi_key> <asterisk> <0> : "°" degree # DEGREE SIGN <Multi_key> <0> <asterisk> : "°" degree # DEGREE SIGN ---- if, in this e-mail, I type the sequence: compose * 0 then, as expected, I see: ° but if I similarly type the sequence: compose * * I see: [i.e., nothing] I've probably done something stupid, like made a typing error somewhere, but I've stared at the files, and re-read the man page multiple times, and I just don't see why what I've done doesn't work. I have rebooted, just to make sure that the files are read correctly; to no avail. (Probably just a restart of the X server is needed [if that], but rebooting seemed more certain.) Doc PS I am on debian stable, fully up to date. -- Web: http://enginehousebooks.com/drevans