self-possessed

[ self-puh-zest, self- ]

adjective

1. having or showing control of one's feelings, behavior, etc.; composed; poised.

   Synonyms: sedate, cool, serene, collected, calm

self-possessed

adjective

1. having control of one's emotions, etc

Derived Forms

• ˌself-posˈsessedly, adverb
• ˌself-posˈsession, noun

Other Words From

• self-pos·sess·ed·ly [self, -p, uh, -, zes, -id-lee, -, zest, -lee, self-], adverb
• unself-pos·sessed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-possessed¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Later, when I interviewed Bolotov, a tall, self-possessed man, no apology for the confrontation was offered.

From The Daily Beast

The saucy and self-possessed singer had kicked her cocaine drug habit and hired a new manager, Lupe De Leon.

From The Daily Beast

Neither trigger-happy nor hesitant, but steely, self-possessed, and clear-eyed.

From The Daily Beast

Even the more polished, informed, self-possessed Romney seems cursed with an Eddie Haskell air of insincerity and deceitfulness.

From The Daily Beast

By the late 1980s, the saucy and self-possessed singer had kicked her drug habit and hired a new manager, Lupe De Leon.

From The Daily Beast

In them the tragedy of life was tumultuously visible, yet they were serene, self-possessed, even steady in their quiet simplicity.

From Project Gutenberg

Stanley and Jim also, with several of the officers on board, were cool and self-possessed, and able to render good service.

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed to be wonderfully self-possessed, and his manners were those, as far as I could judge, of a well-bred young gentleman.

From Project Gutenberg

His distress contrasted strongly with the calm, self-possessed demeanour of the beautiful Thyra at this time of supreme peril.

From Project Gutenberg

He knew it would do Jack good to yield to his sorrow for a brief while, for he would soon become cooler and more self-possessed.

From Project Gutenberg