different between confide vs confidant

English

Etymology

From Latin conf?d? (“I trust fully, I am assured, confide, rely”), from con- (“together”) + f?d? (“I trust”); see faith, fidelity.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /k?n?fa?d/
• Rhymes: -a?d

Verb

confide (third-person singular simple present confides, present participle confiding, simple past and past participle confided)

1. (intransitive, now rare) To trust, have faith (in).
   • 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 269:

     "Be calm, lovely Antonia!" he replied; "no danger in near you: confide in my protection."

   • 1818, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus, Everyman's Library 1973, p. 10:

     "I shall do nothing rashly: you know me sufficiently to confide in my prudence and consideration whenever the safety of others is committed to my care."

   • 1807, Lord Byron, The Prayer of Nature

     In thy protection I confide.

2. (transitive, dated) To entrust (something) to the responsibility of someone.

   I confide this mission to you alone.

3. (intransitive) To take (someone) into one's confidence, to speak in secret with. ( + in)

   I could no longer keep this secret alone; I decided to confide in my brother.

4. (transitive, intransitive) To say (something) in confidence.

   After several drinks, I confided my problems to the barman.

   She confided that her marriage had been in trouble for some time.

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• confide in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• confide in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Latin

Verb

c?nf?de

1. second-person singular present active imperative of c?nf?d?

English

Etymology

From French confident.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?n.f?.d?nt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k?n.f??dænt/, /?k?n.f??dænt/
• Hyphenation: con?fi?dant

Noun

confidant (plural confidants)

1. A person in whom one can confide or share one's secrets: a friend.
   • 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe, William Miller (1808), page 223:

     Heaven made you love me for no other end, / But to become my confidant and friend: / As such, I keep no secret from your sight, […]

Translations

See also

• confidante

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kon?fi?.dant/, [kõ??fi?d?än?t?]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /kon?fi.dant/, [k?n?fi?d??n?t?]

Verb

c?nf?dant

1. third-person plural present active subjunctive of c?nf?d?