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Webster 1913 Edition
Diffident
Dif′fi-dent
,Adj.
1.
Wanting confidence in others; distrustful.
[Archaic]
You were always extremely
diffident
of their success. Melmoth.
2.
Wanting confidence in one’s self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.
Syn. – Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful; lowly; reserved.
Webster 1828 Edition
Diffident
DIFFIDENT
,Adj.
1.
Distrustful; wanting confidence; doubting of anothers power, disposition, sincerity or intention.Be not diffident of wisdom.
Be diffident in dealing with strangers.
2.
Distrustful of ones self; not confident; doubtful of ones own power or competency.Distress makes the humble heart diffident.
3.
Reserved; modest; timid; as a diffident youth.Definition 2024
diffident
diffident
English
Adjective
diffident (comparative more diffident, superlative most diffident)
- (archaic): Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
- Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book IV, chapter viii
- Having therefore—but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.
- 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter VIII:
- At an early point in these exchanges I had started to sidle to the door, and I now sidled through it, rather like a diffident crab on some sandy beach trying to avoid the attentions of a child with a spade.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Book IV, chapter viii
Translations
distrustful
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lacking confidence in one's self
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