DIFFIDENT

diffident, shy, timid, unsure

(adjective) lacking self-confidence; “stood in the doorway diffident and abashed”; “problems that call for bold not timid responses”; “a very unsure young man”

diffident

(adjective) showing modest reserve; “she was diffident when offering a comment on the professor’s lecture”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

diffident (comparative more diffident, superlative most diffident)

(archaic) Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.

Lacking self-confidence; timid; modest

Synonyms: timid, modest

Source: Wiktionary


Dif"fi*dent, a. Etym: [L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere; dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Defy.]

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. The diffident maidens, Folding their hands in prayer. Longfellow.

Syn.

– Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful; lowly; reserved.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

19 April 2025

CATCH

(verb) grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of; “did you catch that allusion?”; “We caught something of his theory in the lecture”; “don’t catch your meaning”; “did you get it?”; “She didn’t get the joke”; “I just don’t get him”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the most massive cup of coffee contained 22,739.14 liters and was created by Alcaldía Municipal de Chinchiná (Colombia) at Parque de Bolívar, Chinchiná, Caldas, Colombia, on 15 June 2019. Fifty people worked for more than a month to build this giant cup. The drink prepared was Arabic coffee.

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