Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A calm or tranquil state of mind; self-possession.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The act of composing; composition.
- n. That which is composed; a composition.
- n. Arrangement; combination; order; adjustment; disposition; posture.
- n. Frame; composition; hence, temperament; disposition; constitution.
- n. A composed state of mind; serenity; calmness; tranquillity.
- n. Agreement; settlement of differences; composition.
- n. Combination; bond.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition.
- n. Orderly adjustment; disposition.
- n. Frame; make; temperament.
- n. A settled state; calmness; sedateness; tranquillity; repose.
- n. A combination; a union; a bond.
WordNet 3.0
- n. steadiness of mind under stress
Etymologies
- From compose.
Examples
“February 17th, 2010 at 11: 04 am gummitch -- this space for rent says: jwest: Look at the crazy eyes, poor personal hygiene, radical support for Obama, inability to maintain composure in an IHOP restaurant – all immediate warning signs of liberalism.”
“Look at the crazy eyes, poor personal hygiene, radical support for Obama, inability to maintain composure in an IHOP restaurant – all immediate warning signs of liberalism.”
“While an overarching character trait of Obama's is to maintain composure in the face of racial hysteria -- which tends to be lurking at the bottom of much of the Tea Party -- that does not mean that the best thing to do is ignore the outspoken opposition.”
“Step 4: Regain composure and prepare for a lifetime of monogamous dove love.”
“And I can think of only one place in America where your Halloween composure is unlikely to be ruffled by endless quantities of cheap and glittering candies: the past.”
The Huffington Post: How Candy And Halloween Became Best Friends
“I picked up this tactic from several different hunting shows and it has helped me maintain composure when I draw back on an animal that I am both willing and intending to shoot.”
“Looking back I can see even deeper emotions lurking behind those closed doors: the desire, always fierce with me, to present a tidy façade to the world, to maintain composure by not permitting too much disturbance on the inside.”
“I can appreciate the sentiment of defending a book you love, but maintaining composure is key.”
Rabid Reads "Ghost Huntress: The Awakening" by Marley Gibson
“It's been a few years since I last saw that movie, but I can still remember Lambert's feckless attempts to maintain composure and stay alive.”
“HAHAHA … (repeat for five minutes, interspersed with multiple pauses for breath, attempts to regain composure, and resumption of laughter)”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘composure’.
-
GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
-
Words sung by: Belle and Sebastian
beguiling, herbaceous, peninsula, suffragette, damascan, hastening, berserk, overtime, leccy, bestow, swathe, arab strap and 193 more...
Prolagus Song quotation on raggedy. Nov 26, 2008