self-possessedadj.
/ˌsɛlfpəˈzɛst/, U.S. /ˌsɛlfpəˈzɛst/ Showing or characterized by self-possession; composed, calm, self-controlled.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > [adjective]
coolc1430
coldc1500
within oneself (itself, etc.)1518
cool-headed1684
present to oneself1692
possesseda1698
self-restrained1700
self-collecteda1711
cool (cold) as a cucumbera1732
self-possessing1732
self-regulating1755
cool-brained1765
self-possessed1766
self-restraining1777
self-disciplined?1791
self-controlling1796
self-repressed1814
self-controlled1822
self-contained1838
self-repressing1849
unimpulsive1856
posé1858
downbeat1953
cucumber-cool1955
supercool1965
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adjective] > self-confident
self-confiding1647
self-assured1668
self-possessed1766
aplomb1865
hensure1929
together1969
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > lack of wonder > [adjective] > composed of mind
collecteda1616
composed1628
collect1682
self-possessing1732
self-possessed1766
self-composed1800
1766 J. Fordyce Serm. Young Women II. xi. 226 They may be still with God, calm, self-possessed.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 228 He..came forward to meet him, with a self-possessed, and even dignified air.
1847 C. Dickens Dombey & Son (1848) xxi. 209 She was not embarrassed, but wholly self-possessed.
1947 R. Abernathy Planet Stories Winter 57/2 [They] began to clamber down, the first with a self-possessed poise, the other showing signs of a jerky impatience.
2013 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 24 Aug. 6 She's..a remarkably self-possessed woman for all the whiplash of her inner turmoil.
Derivatives
self-poˈssessedly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > self-possession or self-control > [adverb]
coldly1526
coolly1580
cool1673
cold blood1711
self-possessedly1854
self-containedly1866
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adverb] > with self-confidence
self-possessedly1854
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > lack of wonder > [adverb] > in a composed manner
collectedly1838
self-possessedly1854
1854 Illustr. N.Y. Jrnl. 5 Aug. 111/2 The little horse laid his ears back close to his head,..whilst Martha self-possessedly kept her seat in the saddle.
1893 Cornhill Mag. July 2 She received the ovation self-possessedly.
1986 Irish Arts Rev. 3 52/3 The child is sedately seated on the edge of a pedestal, looking out self-possessedly at the viewer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1766