composure — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Calmness of mind or temperament.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   coolnessself-possessioncountenance

   Examples

   That all may see who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure […]

   More examples (1)

   It would be also of great Use to us to form our deliberate Judgments of Persons and Things in the calmest and serenest Hours of Life, when the Passions of Nature are all silent, and the Mind enjoys its most perfect Composure […]

   “Did you want anything, ma’am?” I enquired, still preserving my external composure, in spite of her ghastly countenance and strange exaggerated manner.

   More examples (2)

   He began to lose his composure, and made mistakes, his cards got mixed up, and his scoring was wild.

   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

2. The act of composing

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   1818, John Evelyn, Memoirs, edited by William Bray, London: Henry Colburn, 2nd edition, Volume I, entry for 10 March, 1685, p. 592, […] Signʳ Pietro […] had an admirable way both of composure [in music] and teaching.

3. Something which is composed; a composition.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

4. Orderly adjustment; disposition.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   […] from the various Composures and Combinations of these Corpusoles together, happen all the Varieties of the Bodies formed out of them […]

5. Frame; make; temperament.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   […] his composure must be rare indeed Whom these things can not blemish […]

6. A combination; a union; a bond.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   […] their fraction is more our wish than their faction: but it was a strong composure a fool could disunite.

Noun

1. steadiness of mind under stress

   Synonyms

   calmcalmnessequanimity

   Antonyms

   discomposure

   Broader terms

   dispositiontemperament

   Examples

   he accepted their problems with composure and she with equanimity