Part 452

But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.

4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them.

Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak.

Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler. -- Confidence man, a swindler. -- To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.

Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope.

I am confident that very much be done. Boyle.

2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.

Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. Shak.

3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.

As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak.

4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.

The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16.

5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.]

The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous. Jer. Taylor.

Con"fi*dent, n. See Confidant. South. Dryden.

Con`fi*den"tial (?), a. [Cf. F. confidentiel.] 1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk.

2. Communicated in confidence; secret. "Confidential messages." Burke.

Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication, under Privileged. -- Confidential creditors, those whose claims are of such a character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors. -- Confidential debts, debts incurred for borrowed money, and regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts. McElrath.

Con`fi*den"tial*ly (?), adv. In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.

Con"fi*dent*ly (?), adv. With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.

Con"fi*dent*ness, n. The quality of being confident.

Con*fid"er (?), n. One who confides.

Con*fid"ing, a. That confides; trustful; unsuspicious. -- Con*fid"ing*ly, adv. -- Con*fid"ing*ness, n.

Con*fig"ur*ate (?), v. i. [L. configuratus, p. p. of configurare to form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure.] To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure; to agree with a pattern.

Known by the name of uniformity; Where pyramids to pyramids relate And the whole fabric doth configurate. Jordan.

Con*fig`u*ra"tion (?), n. [L. configuratio.] 1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing; shape; figure.

It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris.

2. (Astrol.) Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time.