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diffidence

[ dif-i-duhns ]

/ ˈdɪf ɪ dəns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR diffidence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality or state of being diffident.

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Question 1 of 7

What does “Indigenous” mean?

characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.

carried on abroad, or with other countries.

relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants.

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Origin of diffidence

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

OTHER WORDS FROM diffidence

non·dif·fi·dence, noun

Words nearby diffidence

differently, different strokes for different folks, difficile, difficult, difficulty, diffidence, diffident, diffluence, diffluent, Difflugia, diffract

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for diffidence

She thought it was diffidence that made Andy Green hesitate perceptibly before he took it.
The Flying U's Last Stand|B. M. Bower
His host shook hands with him, and then leaned back in a chair, waiting for him to speak, which he did with a trace of diffidence.
The Greater Power|Harold Bindloss
Had he been taken with a fit of diffidence, and been less precipitate than he intended?
Hopes and Fears|Charlotte M. Yonge
"I am afraid in a measure it is," she replied, but with some diffidence.
The Childerbridge Mystery|Guy Boothby

Poor man, they mistook his reluctance for his diffidence, and forced him to wash it away in another potation.
Pelham, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton

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