Confidence

Origins

ad. Latin confdentia, n. of quality or state f. confdent-em: Cf. F. confidence (14th c. in Oresme), but some of the senses are not found in F. (where they are expressed by confiance).

Definitions

• 1. The mental attitude of trusting in or relying on a person or thing; firm trust, reliance, faith. Const. in (to, on, upon).

• 2. a. The feeling sure or certain of a fact or issue; assurance, certitude; assured expectation.

b. Const. to do. Obs.

c. in, on, upon confidence (of, that, to do).

• 3. a. Assurance, boldness, fearlessness, arising from reliance (on oneself, on circumstances, on divine support, etc.).

b. Const. to have c. to do (anything).

• 4. a. In a bad sense: Assurance based on insufficient or improper grounds; excess of assurance, overboldness, hardihood, presumption, impudence.

b. As an appellation: = Confident one.

• 5. An object or ground of trust; ‘that which gives confidence, boldness, or security’ (J.).

• 6. The confiding of private or secret matters to another; the relation of intimacy or trust between persons so confiding; confidential intimacy.

• 7. A confidential communication.

• 8. Trustworthiness, as a personal quality. a person of confidence: one entrusted with matters of importance or secrecy, a confidential agent.