Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Composure

Com-po′sure

,
Noun.
[From
Compose
.]
1.
The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition.
[Obs.]
Signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of
composure
[in music] and teaching.
Evelyn.
2.
Orderly adjustment; disposition.
[Obs.]
Various
composures
and combinations of these corpuscles.
Woodward.
3.
Frame; make; temperament.
[Obs.]
His
composure
must be rare indeed
Whom these things can not blemish.
Shakespeare
4.
A settled state; calmness; sedateness; tranquillity; repose.
“We seek peace and composure.”
Milton.
When the passions . . . are all silent, the mind enjoys its most perfect
composure
.
I. Watts.
5.
A combination; a union; a bond.
[Obs.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Composure

COMPOSURE

, n.
1.
The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition; as a form of prayer of public composure; a hasty composure.
In the composures of men, remember you are a man.
In this use, this word has given way to composition.
2.
Composition; combination; arrangement; order.
When such a composure of letters, such a word, is intended to signify a certain thing.
3.
The form, adjustment, or disposition of the various parts.
In composure of his face,
Lived a fair but manly grace.
The outward form and composure of the body.
4.
Frame; make; temperament.
His composure must be rare indeed,
Whom these things cannot blemish.
5.
A settled state of the mind; sedateness; calmness; tranquility.
When the passions are silent, the mind enjoys its most perfect composure.
6.
Agreement; settlement of differences; composition.
The treaty at Uxbridge gave the fairest hopes of a happy composure.

Definition 2024


composure

composure

English

Noun

composure (countable and uncountable, plural composures)

  1. Calmness of mind or matter, self-possession.
    • Milton
      We seek peace and composure.
    • I. Watts
      When the passions [] are all silent, the mind enjoys its most perfect composure.
    • 1847, Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, Chapter XII
      “Did you want anything, ma’am?” I enquired, still preserving my external composure, in spite of her ghastly countenance and strange exaggerated manner.
    • 2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegro”, in BBC:
      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
    • 1798, Giacomo Casanova, chapter 92, in The memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt:
      He began to lose his composure, and made mistakes, his cards got mixed up, and his scoring was wild.
  2. (obsolete) The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition.
    • Evelyn
      Signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure [in music] and teaching.
  3. (obsolete) Orderly adjustment; disposition.
    • Woodward
      Various composures and combinations of these corpuscles.
  4. (obsolete) frame; make; temperament
    • Shakespeare
      His composure must be rare indeed / Whom these things can not blemish.
  5. (obsolete) A combination; a union; a bond.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

Synonyms

  • (calmness): equanimity
  • (calmness): See also Wikisaurus:calm

Translations