Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Self-command; self-restraint.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Control of one's self; restraint exercised over one's self; self-command.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The ability to control one's desires and impulses; willpower.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
  • noun the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

self- +‎ control

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Examples

Comments

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  • "We trudge around the streets looking for a reasonable cafe. We find one on a wide one-time populous street, now rather run down, on it is a Trattoria Tuscano, 'Allied Soldiers Welcomes'. Inside, about twelve tables, all covered in white paper, sparsely laid out with cutlery. A few tables are occupied by what look like potential Mafia recruits, all huddled over their tables talking in low voices, an act of great self-control for Italians."

    - Spike Milligan, 'Mussolini: My Part In His Downfall.'

    April 18, 2009