confidence English · revision 4064

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la confidere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈkɒn.fɪ.dəns/, US /ˈkɑːn.fə.dəns/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|confidence]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|confidence]]^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) or directly [[bor|la|cōnfidentia|t=firm trust]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966) from cōnfidēns “firmly trusting, bold”, the present participle of [[m|la|cōnfīdere|t=to have full trust or reliance]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from con-, here perhaps an intensive prefix, and [[m|la|fīdere|t=to trust]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*bʰeydʰ-|alt=*bheidh-|t=to trust, confide, persuade]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[confide]], [[confident]] and [[fidelity]].^(SOED 2002)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Assurance or belief in the goodwill or truthfulness of another”: about 1400 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) about 1430 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Reliance on one's own powers or resources, self-assurance” is from the mid-15th century,^(Etymonline) 1526 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and its bad sense, assurance on insufficient grounds, overboldness, from 1594.^(OED 1989) “Certainty about a fact” is from the 1550s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The confiding of private matters, a relation of trust, is from 1592,^(OED 1989) and a secret, a private communication, from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The link with swindling dates from the mid-19th century, from the false trustworthiness that is the key to the trick:^(Etymonline) the adjective, as in ''confidence man'' and ''confidence game'', is from 1849,^(MW Collegiate) and a verb “to swindle by a confidence trick” is from 1875.^(OED 1989) From it came the clipping [[con]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – trust in another.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1526 – self-assurance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1550s – certainty.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – a secret.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1849 – adjective, of a swindle.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1875 – verb, to swindle.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[Trust]] or faith in a person or thing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A trusting relationship: ''took her into his confidence''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something told in trust; a [[secret]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A feeling of assurance, especially [[self-assurance]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The state of being certain: ''confidence in the result''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to a swindle: ''a confidence trick''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonconfidence]]

+ * [[superconfidence]]

+ * [[self-confidence]]

+ * [[confidence interval]]

+ * [[confidence game]]

+ * [[confidence limits]]

+ * [[confidence man]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[confide]]

+ * [[confident]]

+ * [[confidential]]

+ * [[fidelity]]

+ * [[faith]]

+ * [[con]]

+ * [[diffidence]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes confidence, a firm belief in one's powers and judgement, from assurance, aplomb, self-confidence, self-possession and trust.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}