Composure

Origin

compose + -ure

Full definition of composure

Noun

1. Calmness of mind or matter, self-possession.
• MiltonWe seek peace and composure.
• I. WattsWhen the passions ... are all silent, the mind enjoys its most perfect composure.
• Bronte Wuthering|XII“Did you want anything, ma’am?” I enquired, still preserving my external composure, in spite of her ghastly countenance and strange exaggerated manner.
• 2011, September 2, , Wales 2-1 Montenegro, Montenegro's early composure was shaken by that set-back and a visibly buoyed Wales nearly added a second goal when Bale broke past two defenders and fired a long-range shot that Bozovic tipped over
• 1798, Giacomo Casanova, The memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt Chapter 92, He began to lose his composure, and made mistakes, his cards got mixed up, and his scoring was wild.
2. (obsolete) The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition.
• EvelynSignor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure music and teaching.
3. (obsolete) Orderly adjustment; disposition.
• WoodwardVarious composures and combinations of these corpuscles.
4. (obsolete) frame; make; temperament
• ShakespeareHis composure must be rare indeed
  Whom these things can not blemish.
5. (obsolete) A combination; a union; a bond.

Synonyms

• (calmness) equanimity
• (calmness) See also