diffidentia Latin · revision 34306

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la fīdō}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''diffīdentia''' ''f'' (genitive diffīdentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|diffīdēns|-ia|t1=distrustful]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) from the present participle of [[m|la|diffīdō|t=to distrust]],^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) a compound of [[m|la|dis-]] and [[m|la|fīdō|t=to trust]].^(Etymonline) De Vaan traces [[m|la|fīdō]] to [[ine-pro|*bheidh-e/o-|t=to trust]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL and Köbler find it first in Cicero,^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010) who in ''De inventione'' sets it against [[fīdentia]], confidence: ''fīdentiae contrārium est diffīdentia''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) It means lack of confidence, distrust.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Sallust, Ovid, Quintilian, Tacitus and Suetonius use it of distrust or lack of confidence, often with a genitive of what is distrusted.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) In Christian writers it is lack of faith, unbelief and disobedience,^(Stelten 1995)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) and in medieval Latin also a vassal's formal renouncing of faith, a defiance of his lord.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''diffidence'' was borrowed around 1400 in the sense “distrust”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in ''De inventione''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it with a genitive.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it of lack of faith.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1400 – English borrows ''diffidence'', at first meaning distrust.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Lack of [[m|en|confidence]], [[m|en|diffidence]]; [[m|en|distrust]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' Want of faith, [[m|en|unbelief]]; [[m|en|disobedience]].^(Stelten 1995)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A vassal's renouncing of faith, [[m|en|defiance]] of a lord.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[diffīdō]]

+ * [[fīdentia]]

+ * [[cōnfīdentia]]

+ * [[en|diffidence]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}