self-possession.

Control of one’s outward manner and reactions, especially in a difficult situation.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• remarkable self-possession
• retain self-possession
• lose one’s self-possession

On the page

Her self-possession held until he used the name no one else was supposed to know.

He answered with a self-possession that made the rehearsed lie sound spontaneous.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychological / character. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.