diffidence
/ˈdɪfɪdəns/
noun
Origin
Latin
diffidere — to lack trust or confidence
Overview
Meaning Now
- modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence
- hesitancy in acting or speaking
Literal older meaning
a state of lacking trust (in oneself)
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
diffidence
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term originally carried a stronger connotation of 'mistrust' or 'suspicion' toward others. Over time, it evolved to describe an internal state of character, specifically the tendency to hold back due to a lack of self-belief.
Evolution
- Latin
diffidere
“to mistrust”
From 'dis-' (away/apart) + 'fidere' (to trust).
- Middle French
diffidence
“mistrust or suspicion”
- Late 16th Century English
diffidence
“lack of self-confidence; timidity”
Shifted from the sense of general distrust to personal insecurity.
Connections
Word parts
dif-
prefix
variation of dis-, meaning negation
fid-
root
trust (from Latin fides)
-ence
suffix
forming a state or quality
Related across languages
French
défiance
distrust
Italian
diffidenza
distrust/suspicion
Explore next
Related to diffidence
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.