The Collaborative International Dictionary
Self-possession \Self`-pos*ses"sion\, n. The possession of one's powers; calmness; self-command; presence of mind; composure.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"command of one's emotions," 1745, from self- + possession (n.). Related: Self-possessed.
Wiktionary
n. 1 confidence in one's own powers 2 calmness and composure, especially when under stress
WordNet
n. the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior [syn: self-control, possession, willpower, self-command, self-will]
Usage examples of "self-possession".
He still occasionally came home at hours when he could not be expected, but Adela was always occupied either with housework or reading, and received him with the cold self-possession which came of her understanding his motives.
But she was rather afraid of the self-possession of the Morels, father and all.
What he saw was a trim, sun-browned boy wrestling with a charming little touch of diffidence, trying to decide how to proceed in this matter which was so important to him and so trifling to John Temple, but exhibiting withal the inherent self-possession which bespeaks good breeding.
The truth is, the general effect of the schoolroom, with its scores of young girls, all their eyes naturally centring on him with fixed or furtive glances, was enough to bewilder and confuse a young man like Master Langdon, though he was not destitute of self-possession, as we have already seen.
She found herself on the other side of the door without seeing anything remarkable, but immediately she heard a voice speaking in low tones which startled her as with a sense of dreaming in daylight, and advancing unconsciously a step or two beyond the projecting slab of a bookcase, she saw, in the terrible illumination of a certainty which filled up all outlines, something which made her pause, motionless, without self-possession enough to speak.
The cavern's information spun around me, meaningless unless I interpreted it, and it took all the self-possession I could muster just to slow my rabbiting thoughts and try to consider where we were, what we could do.
Having done this, he directed one of the ladies to gird on his sword, which she did with great self-possession and gravity, and not a little was required to prevent a burst of laughter at each stage of the ceremony.