diffidence

[dif-i-duh ns]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR diffidence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality or state of being diffident.

Origin of diffidence

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin diffīdentia mistrust, want of confidence. See diffident, -ence

Related formsnon·dif·fi·dence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for diffidence

constraint, modesty, hesitation, backwardness, timidity, insecurity, meekness, reluctance, shyness, doubt, humility, fear, timidness, reserve

Examples from the Web for diffidence

Historical Examples of diffidence

The youth sat down as directed, but reluctantly and with diffidence.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
At this point Wanhope hesitated with a kind of diffidence that was rather charming in him.
Questionable Shapes
William Dean Howells
Mr. Cruncher, with some diffidence, explained himself as meaning "Old Nick's."
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
His manner betrayed a curious mixture of diffidence and assurance.
The Avenger
E. Phillips Oppenheim
The diffidence of his tone proved startling to her by virtue of its unusualness.
Mistress Wilding
Rafael Sabatini

Word Origin and History for diffidence

c.1400, from Latin diffidentia "mistrust, distrust, want of confidence," from diffidere "to mistrust, lack confidence," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + fidere "to trust" (see faith). Modern sense is of "distrusting oneself" (1650s). The original sense was the opposite of confidence.