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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary dif·fi·dent ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin diffident-, diffidens,present participle of diffidere to distrust, from dis- + fidere to trust — more at bide DATE 15th century 1. hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence 2. archaic : distrustful 3. reserved , unassertive Synonyms: see shy • dif·fi·dent·ly adverb English Etymology diffident 1590s, from L. diffidentem, prp. of diffidere (see diffidence). Related: Diffidently. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 diffident dif·fi·dent / 5difidEnt / adjective ~ (about sth) not having much confidence in yourself; not wanting to talk about yourself 缺乏自信的；胆怯的；羞怯的 SYN shy : a diffident manner / smile 畏首畏尾的态度；羞怯的一笑 He was modest and diffident about his own success. 他很谦虚,不愿谈及自己的成功。 • dif·fi·dence / -dEns / noun [U] : She overcame her natural diffidence and spoke with great frankness. 她克服了胆怯的毛病,非常坦率地说出了自己的想法。 • dif·fi·dent·ly adv. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition adj. Function: adjective Synonyms: SHY 1, bashful, coy, demure, modest, retiring, self-effacing, timid, unassertive, unassured Related Words: blenching, flinching, shrinking; hesitant, reluctant Contrasted Words: assured, presumptuous, sanguine, sure; self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, self-reliant; brazen, impudent, shameless Antonyms: confident Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged dif·fi·dent \ˈdifədənt also -dənt or -ˌdent\ adjective Etymology: Latin diffident-, diffidens, present participle of diffidere to mistrust, from dif- (from dis-) + fidere to trust — more at bide 1. archaic : lacking trust : doubtful , distrustful 2. : lacking confidence in oneself : distrustful of one's own powers : timid 3. : characterized by modest reserve < one should feel diffident … when offering to comment on any Hindu myth — Heinrich Zimmer > Synonyms: see shy |
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