/ ˈdɪfɪdənt; NAmE / adjective
diffident (about sth) not having much confidence in yourself; not wanting to talk about yourself
SYN shy :
a diffident manner / smile
He was modest and diffident about his own success.
► dif·fi·dence / -dəns; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
She overcame her natural diffidence and spoke with great frankness.
► dif·fi·dent·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense lacking confidence or trust in someone or something ): from Latin diffident- failing in trust, from the verb diffidere , from dis- (expressing reversal) + fidere to trust.