confident English · revision 5217

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1576|origins=la cōnfīdere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|confident]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) partly via Italian confidente,^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|cōnfīdēns|t=firmly trusting, self-confident, bold]], the present participle of [[m|la|cōnfīdere|t=to have full trust]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|la|com-]] and [[m|la|fīdere|t=to trust]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[confide]], [[confidence]], [[confidant]] and [[diffident]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Self-reliant, sure of oneself, bold: 1576 in the OED, the 1570s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In a bad sense, over-bold or presumptuous, it is from 1597.^(OED 1989) The sense “trustful, confiding”, from 1588, is now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) “Fully assured, having strong belief” is from about 1600, 1601 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Confident of'' and ''confident that'' are from 1611.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1576 – self-reliant.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1588 – trustful (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1597 – presumptuous.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – fully assured.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Sure that something will happen or is true: ''confident of success''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Sure of oneself and one's abilities; [[self-assured]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Too bold; [[presumptuous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[confidently]]

+ * [[hyperconfident]]

+ * [[nonconfident]]

+ * [[superconfident]]

+ * [[ultraconfident]]

+ * [[unconfident]]

+ * [[overconfident]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[confidant]]

+ * [[confidante]]

+ * [[confide]]

+ * [[confidence]]

+ * [[confidential]]

+ * [[diffident]]

+ * [[fidelity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}