Associations to the word «Diffident»

Wiktionary

DIFFIDENT, adjective. (archaic): Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
DIFFIDENT, adjective. Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.

Dictionary definition

DIFFIDENT, adjective. Showing modest reserve; "she was diffident when offering a comment on the professor's lecture".
DIFFIDENT, adjective. Lacking self-confidence; "stood in the doorway diffident and abashed"; "problems that call for bold not timid responses"; "a very unsure young man".

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats