Diffidence
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement. countable, uncountable
"Without scruple—without apology—without much apparent diffidence, Mr. Elton, the lover of Harriet, was professing himself her lover."
- 2 lack of self-confidence wordnet
- 3 Mistrust, distrust, lack of confidence in someone or something. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"[Charles, King of France]: We have been guided by thee hitherto, And of thy cunning had no diffidence: One sudden foil shall never breed distrust."
Example
More examples"With great diffidence I venture to point out what I conceive to be reasons for failure, and also to offer some suggestions that, if adopted, will, I believe, greatly minimise, if not remove, certain evils."
Etymology
From Latin diffīdentiam (“distrust”), from diffīdere (“to mistrust”), from dis- and fīdere (“to trust”). Attested since ∼1400. The original sense was antonymous with confidence, and the modern sense of ‘distrusting oneself’ dates from the 1650s.