different between modesty vs diffidence

English

Etymology

From Middle French modestie, from Latin modestia

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?d.?.sti/

Noun

modesty (usually uncountable, plural modesties)

1. The quality of being modest; having a limited and not overly high opinion of oneself and one's abilities.

   • At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy?; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.

2. Moderate behaviour; reserve.
3. (specifically) Pudency, avoidance of sexual explicitness.

Antonyms

• immodesty
• extravagance
• impudence

Derived terms

• false modesty
• modesty bag
• modesty bit
• modesty board
• modesty panel
• modesty piece

Related terms

• modestly

Translations

English

Etymology

From Latin diff?dentiam (“distrust”), from diff?dere (“to mistrust”), from dis- and f?dere (“to trust”). Attested since ?1400. The original sense was antonymous with confidence, and the modern sense of ‘distrusting oneself’ dates from the 1650s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?f?d?ns/

Noun

diffidence (countable and uncountable, plural diffidences)

1. The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.
   • 1857, Brigham Young, Journal of Discources, Attention and Reflection Necessary to An Increase of Knowledge, etc.

     I have the same diffidence in my feelings that most public speakers have, and am apt to think that others can speak better and more edifying than I can.

   • 1897, José María de Pereda, translated by William Henry Bishop, Cleto's Proposal to Sotileza (an excerpt from Sotileza)

     "I was passing by," he began to stammer, trembling with his diffidence, "I—happened to be passing along this way, and so—er—as I was passing this way, I says to myself, says I, 'I'll just stop into the shop a minute.'
2. (obsolete) Mistrust, distrust, lack of confidence in someone or something.
   • 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI part I, act 3 scene 3

     [Charles, King of France]: We have been guided by thee hitherto,

     And of thy cunning had no diffidence:

     One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.

Related terms

Translations

References