[See -NESS.]
1. lit. State of being gathered together; compactness. rare.
1647. H. More, Song of Soul, III. III. xvii. Sith the soul is of such subtlety, And close collectednesse, indispersion.
1873. Earle, Philol. Eng. Tongue, § 252. The muscular collectedness of such a sentence as Beati mundo corde.
2. fig. State of having the faculties under control and in order; composure, self-possession, calmness.
1789. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 580. The coolness and collectedness of some of their leaders.
1865. M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., iii. 93. Devout collectedness of soul.
1871. ‘Holme Lee,’ Miss Barrington, I. vii. 97. How little leisure there is for collectedness and thought.
