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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To collect one's self

Collect \Col*lect"\ (k[o^]l*l[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collected; p. pr. & vb. n. Collecting.] [L. collecrus, p. p. of collerige to bind together; col- + legere to gather: cf. OF. collecter. See Legend, and cf. Coil, v. t., Cull, v. t.]

  1. To gather into one body or place; to assemble or bring together; to obtain by gathering.

    A band of men Collected choicely from each country.
    --Shak.

    'Tis memory alone that enriches the mind, by preserving what our labor and industry daily collect.
    --Watts.

  2. To demand and obtain payment of, as an account, or other indebtedness; as, to collect taxes.

  3. To infer from observed facts; to conclude from premises. [Archaic.]
    --Shak.

    Which sequence, I conceive, is very ill collected.
    --Locke.

    To collect one's self, to recover from surprise, embarrassment, or fear; to regain self-control.

    Syn: To gather; assemble; congregate; muster; accumulate; garner; aggregate; amass; infer; deduce.