Part 273

Syn. -- Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See Impediment.

Dif*fide" (?), v. i. [L. diffidere. See Diffident.] To be distrustful. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Dif"fi*dence (?), n. [L. diffidentia.] 1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [Archaic]

That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a diffidence of God's mercy.

Donne.

2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness.

It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence.

Macaulay.

An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of address.

W. Irving.

Syn. -- Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear; timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness.

Dif"fi*den*cy (?), n. See Diffidence. [Obs.]

Dif"fi*dent (?), a. [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.

Dif"fi*dent*ly, adv. In a diffident manner.

To stand diffidently against each other with their thoughts in battle array.

Hobbes.

Dif*find (?), v. t. [L. diffindere, diffissum; dif- = dis- + findere to split.] To split. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dif*fine" (?), v. t. To define. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dif*fin"i*tive (?), a. [For definitive.] Definitive; determinate; final. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

Dif*fis"sion (?), n. [See Diffind.] Act of cleaving or splitting. [R.] Bailey.

Dif*fla"tion (?), n. [LL. difflatio, fr. L. difflare, difflatum, to disperse by blowing.] A blowing apart or away. [Obs.] Bailey.

{ Dif"flu*ence (?), Dif"flu*en*cy (?), } n. A flowing off on all sides; fluidity. [R.]