Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Diffidence
Dif′fi-dence
,Noun.
[L.
diffidentia
.] 1.
The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others.
[Archaic]
That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a
diffidence
of God’s mercy. Donne.
2.
Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness.
It is good to speak on such questions with
diffidence
. Macaulay.
Syn. – Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See
Humility
, and Bashfulness
. Webster 1828 Edition
Diffidence
DIFFIDENCE
,Noun.
1.
Distrust; want of confidence; any doubt of the power, ability or disposition of others. It is said there was a general diffidence of the strength and resources of the nation, and of the sincerity of the king.2.
More generally, distrust of ones self; want of confidence in our own power, competency, correctness or wisdom; a doubt respecting some personal qualification. We speak or write with diffidence, when we doubt our ability to speak or write correctly or to the satisfaction of others. The effect of diffidence is some degree of reserve, modesty, timidity or bashfulness. Hence,3.
Modest reserve; a moderate degree of timidity or bashfulness; as, he addressed the audience or the prince with diffidence.Definition 2024
diffidence
diffidence
English
Noun
diffidence (countable and uncountable, plural diffidences)
- The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.
- 1857, Brigham Young, Journal of Discources, Attention and Reflection Necessary to An Increase of Knowledge, etc.
- I have the same diffidence in my feelings that most public speakers have, and am apt to think that others can speak better and more edifying than I can.
- 1897, José María de Pereda, translated by William Henry Bishop, Cleto's Proposal to Sotileza (an excerpt from Sotileza)
- "I was passing by," he began to stammer, trembling with his diffidence, "I—happened to be passing along this way, and so—er—as I was passing this way, I says to myself, says I, 'I'll just stop into the shop a minute.'
- 1857, Brigham Young, Journal of Discources, Attention and Reflection Necessary to An Increase of Knowledge, etc.
- (obsolete) Mistrust, distrust, lack of confidence in someone or something.
- 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI part I, act 3 scene 3
- [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.
- 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI part I, act 3 scene 3
Translations
The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement
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References
- ↑ “diffidence” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).