self-possessed.

Calm and composed, with control over one’s outward behavior.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a self-possessed speaker
• a self-possessed manner

On the page

She remained self-possessed while the questions became increasingly personal.

His self-possessed manner made the shaking hand more noticeable.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary. Forms: Comparative more self-possessed; superlative most self-possessed. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.