Part 2264

<hw><hw>Con`fi*dant"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>; 277), <tt>n. masc.</tt>, <hw>Con`fi*dante"</hw> <tt>(?; 277)</tt>, <tt>n. fem.</tt><hw><ety>[F. <ets>confident</ets>, <ets>confidente</ets>, formerly also spelt <ets>confidant</ets>, <ets>confidante</ets>. See <er>Confide</er>, and cf. <er>Confident</er>.]</ety> <def>One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend.</def>

<blockquote>You love me for no other end Than to become my <b>confidant</b> and friend; As such I keep no secret from your sight. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Confide</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fide"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p.p.</tt> <er>Confided</er>; <tt>p.pr. & vb.n.</tt> <er>Confiding</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>confidere</ets>; <ets>con-</ets> + <ets>fidere</ets> to trust. See <er>Faith</er>, and cf. <er>Affiance</er>.]</ety> <def>To put faith (<i>in</i>); to repose confidence; to trust; -- usually followed by <i>in</i>; <as>as, the prince <ex>confides</ex> in his ministers</as>.</def>

<blockquote>By thy command I rise or fall, In thy protection I <b>confide</b>. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Judge before friendships, then <b>confide</b> till death. <i>Young.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Confide</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con*fide"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To intrust; to give in charge; to commit to one's keeping; -- followed by <i>to</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Congress may . . . <b>confide</b> to the Circuit jurisdiction of all offenses against the United States. <i>Story.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Confidence</h1> <Xpage=300>

<hw>Con"fi*dence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>confidentia</ets> firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. F. <ets>confidence</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by <i>of</i>, now commonly by <i>in</i>.</def>

<blockquote>Society is built upon trust, and trust upon <b>confidence</b> of one another's integrity. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A cheerful <b>confidence in the mercy of God</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That in which faith is put or reliance had.</def>

<blockquote>The Lord shall be thy <b>confidence</b>. <i>Prov. iii. 26.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstamces; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with <i>self</i> prefixed.</def>

<blockquote>Your wisdom is consumed in <b>confidence</b>; Do not go forth to-day. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>But <b>confidence</b> then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Private conversation; (<pluf>pl.</pluf>) secrets shared; <as>as, there were <ex>confidences</ex> between them</as>.</def>

<blockquote>Sir, I desire some <b>confidence</b> with you. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

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

<syn>Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope.</syn>

<blockquote>I am <b>confident</b> that very much be done. <i>Boyle.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.</def>

<blockquote>Be <b>confident</b> to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.</def>

<blockquote>As <b>confident</b> as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.</def>