Diffidence

Diffidence
Diffidence Dif"fi*dence, n. [L. diffidentia.] 1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. --Donne. [1913 Webster]

2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness. [1913 Webster]

It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of address. --W. Irving.

Syn: Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See {Humility}, and {Bashfulness}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • diffidence — index fear, hesitation, qualm, reluctance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • diffidence — c.1400, from L. diffidentia mistrust, distrust, want of confidence, from diffidere to mistrust, lack confidence, from dis away (see DIS (Cf. dis )) + fidere to trust (see FAITH (Cf. faith)). Modern sense is of distrusting oneself (1650s). The… …   Etymology dictionary

  • diffidence — [n] hesitancy; lack of confidence backwardness, bashfulness, constraint, doubt, fear, hesitation, humility, insecurity, meekness, modesty, mousiness, reluctance, reserve, selfconsciousness, sheepishness, shyness, timidity, timidness, timorousness …   New thesaurus

  • diffidence — [dif′ə dəns] n. [ME < L diffidentia < diffidens, prp. of diffidere, to distrust < dis , not + fidere, to trust: see FAITH] lack of confidence in oneself, marked by hesitation in asserting oneself; shyness …   English World dictionary

  • diffidence — noun her diffidence was out of place in this outgoing group Syn: shyness, bashfulness, modesty, self effacement, meekness, unassertiveness, timidity, humility, hesitancy, reticence, insecurity, self doubt, uncertainty, self consciousness …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • diffidence —   Hilahila, ho okano ole.    ♦ With unfeigned diffidence, me ka hopohopo ho okamani ole …   English-Hawaiian dictionary

  • diffidence — nepasitikėjimas savimi statusas T sritis Kūno kultūra ir sportas apibrėžtis Pasitikėjimo savimi trūkumas, pasireiškiantis nesėkmės baime, abejonėmis dėl savo gebėjimų, galimybių, varžovų pervertinimu. atitikmenys: angl. diffidence vok.… …   Sporto terminų žodynas

  • diffidence — diffident ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking in self confidence. DERIVATIVES diffidence noun diffidently adverb. ORIGIN Latin, from diffidere fail to trust …   English terms dictionary

  • diffidence — noun Date: 14th century the quality or state of being diffident …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • diffidence — /dif i deuhns/, n. the quality or state of being diffident. [1350 1400; ME < L diffidentia mistrust, want of confidence. See DIFFIDENT, ENCE] * * * …   Universalium

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