diffidently

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Related to diffidently: earnestly, Chasms

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.

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Adv.

diffidently - in a diffident manner; "`Oh, well,' he shrugged diffidently, `I like the work.'"

Translations

بِعَدَم ثِقَه

bázlivěnesměle

feimnislega

çekingenlikle

diffidently

[ˈdɪfɪdəntlɪ] ADV → tímidamente, de forma insegura

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

diffidently

[ˈdɪfɪdəntli] adv [say, ask] → d'un ton mal assuré, d'un air mal assuré

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

diffidently

adv → zaghaft

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

diffidently

[ˈdɪfɪd/əntlɪ] adv (smile, answer, behave) → con esitazione

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 ?

And he began, at first rather diffidently, but more and more carried away by the subject as he went on, to draw her attention to the various details of the decoration of his house and garden.

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No matter how diffidently or how respectfully Magdalen might presume on her master's example, and on her master's evident liking for her, the old man instantly discovered the advance she was making from her proper position, and instantly put her back in it again, with a quaint good humor which inflicted no pain, but with a blunt straightforwardness of purpose which permitted no escape.

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"I don't suppose," Tootles said diffidently [bashfully or timidly], "that I could be father.

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Most diffidently did I call this accomplishment to my aid now, and immediately David checked his forces and considered my unexpected movement without prejudice.

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"Seems like the only common and ordinary folks here are ourselves," rejoined Aunt Em, diffidently.

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"Didn't--your aunt want you to go?" asked the doctor, a little diffidently, as they drove away.

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"Perhaps," the Duke suggested diffidently, "you would like to ride over, Prince?

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"Yes, m'm." The old servant hesitated, then added diffidently: "Don't you think, m'm, you'd better get to bed?

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"There are two of your father's pictures in the modern side of the gallery up-stairs," he remarked, a little diffidently. "They are great favourites with everybody here."

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"What would ye think of offering up prayer?" the man asked diffidently.

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"Ma, I've enlisted," he had said to her diffidently. There was a short silence.

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"Your knowledge of the world, dear aunt, is superior to mine," I suggested diffidently. "But there must be a reason surely for this extraordinary conduct on Rachel's part.