diffident

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Related to diffident: enfranchise

diffident

hesitant to assert oneself; timid

Not to be confused with:

different – dissimilar; unlike; separate and distinct

dif·fi·dent

(dĭf′ĭ-dənt, -dĕnt′)

adj.

Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid: He was too diffident to express his opinion.

[Middle English, from Latin diffīdēns, diffīdent-, present participle of diffīdere, to mistrust : dis-, dis- + fīdere, to trust; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots.]

dif′fi·dent·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

diffident

(ˈdɪfɪdənt)

adj

lacking self-confidence; timid; shy

[C15: from Latin diffīdere to distrust, from dis- not + fīdere to trust]

ˈdiffidence n

ˈdiffidently adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dif•fi•dent

(ˈdɪf ɪ dənt)

adj.

1. lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy.

2. hesitant or tentative in manner; reserved.

3. Archaic. distrustful.

[1425–75; late Middle English < Latin diffīdent-, s. of diffīdēns, present participle of diffīdere to lack confidence =dif- dif- + fīdere to trust (see faith)]

dif′fi•dence, n.

dif′fi•dent•ly, adv.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Adj.	1.	diffident - showing modest reserve; "she was diffident when offering a comment on the professor's lecture" reserved - marked by self-restraint and reticence; "was habitually reserved in speech, withholding her opinion"-Victoria Sackville-West
	2.	diffident - lacking self-confidence; "stood in the doorway diffident and abashed"; "problems that call for bold not timid responses"; "a very unsure young man" shy, unsure, timid confident - having or marked by confidence or assurance; "a confident speaker"; "a confident reply"; "his manner is more confident these days"; "confident of fulfillment"

diffident

adjective shy, reserved, withdrawn, reluctant, modest, shrinking, doubtful, backward, unsure, insecure, constrained, timid, self-conscious, hesitant, meek, unassuming, unobtrusive, self-effacing, sheepish, bashful, timorous, unassertive She was diffident and reserved in meetings.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

diffident

adjective

Not forward but reticent or reserved in manner:

backward, bashful, coy, demure, modest, retiring, self-effacing, shy, timid.

Translations

عَديم الثِّقَه بِنَفْسِهِ

bázlivýnesmělý

skyusikker

schüchtern

óframfærinn

diffidente insicuro timido

nepasitikėjimas saviminepasitikintis saviminetvirtai

biklsnedrošs

forknytt nølende

çekingen pısırık

缺乏自信的

diffident

[ˈdɪfɪdənt] ADJ → inseguro, cohibido

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

diffident

[ˈdɪfɪdənt] adj → qui manque d'assurance, peu sûr(e) de soi
to be diffident → manquer d'assurance, être peu sûr(e) de soi

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

diffident

adj → zurückhaltend, bescheiden; smile → zaghaft; he was diffident about offering his help → er hat zaghaft seine Hilfe angeboten

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

diffident

[ˈdɪfɪd/ənt] adj (person) → poco sicuro/a di sé; (smile) → timido/a, imbarazzato/a
to be diffident about doing sth → esitare a fare qc

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

diffident

(ˈdifidənt) adjective

not confident.

ˈdiffidently adverb

ˈdiffidence noun

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References in classic literature ?

You've opened your house to Jones and me in the most generous way; Jones was remark- ing upon it to-day, just before you came back from the village; for although he wouldn't be likely to say such a thing to you -- because Jones isn't a talker, and is diffident in society -- he has a good heart and a grateful, and knows how to appreciate it when he is well treated; yes, you and your wife have been very hospitable toward us --"

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"Edward (replied she) you are surely too diffident in your own praise.

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I was diffident of quoting it after such lines as Rosalind had recalled, but by the time we had reached our coffee, I plucked up courage to mention it.

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Gouvernail was in no sense a diffident man, for he was not a self-conscious one.

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He was too diffident to do justice to himself; but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart.

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Here I may remark that for a long time past I have been feeling twice as shy and diffident as I used to do; I have been finding it impossible to look people in the face.

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He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday.

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Opportunities of getting to Hetty's side would be sure to turn up in the course of the day, and Adam contented himself with that for he disliked any risk of being "joked" about Hetty--the big, outspoken, fearless man was very shy and diffident as to his love- making.

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But Sir James Chettam was no longer the diffident and acquiescent suitor: he was the anxious brother-in-law, with a devout admiration for his sister, but with a constant alarm lest she should fall under some new illusion almost as bad as marrying Casaubon.

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Having therefore--but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.

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In the last degree constrained, reserved, diffident, troubled.

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One soon learns to expect this bow and be on the lookout and ready to return it; but to learn to lead off and make the initial bow one's self is a difficult matter for a diffident man.