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Confidence - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Confidence : (noun)
1: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
"his assurance in his superiority did not make him
popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence";
"she spoke with authority" [syn: assurance, self-assurance,
self-confidence, authority, sureness]
2: a feeling of trust (in someone or something); "I have
confidence in our team"; "confidence is always borrowed,
never owned" [ant: diffidence]
3: a state of confident hopefulness that events will be
favorable; "public confidence in the economy"
4: a trustful relationship; "he took me into his confidence";
"he betrayed their trust" [syn: trust]
5: a secret that is confided or entrusted to another; "everyone
trusted him with their confidences"; "the priest could not
reveal her confidences"
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Confidence : \Con"fi*dence\, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in,
self-confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in;
trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now
commonly by in.
Society is built upon trust, and trust upon
confidence of one another's integrity. --South.
A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God.
--Macaulay.
2. That in which faith is put or reliance had.
The Lord shall be thy confidence. --Prov. iii.
26.
3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on
himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of
self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of
security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed.
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go
forth to-day. --Shak.
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
prosperious. --Jer. Taylor.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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