c. 1400, from Latin diffidentia "mistrust, distrust, want of confidence," from diffidere "to mistrust, lack confidence," from dis- "away" (see dis-) + fidere "to trust" (see faith). Modern sense is of "distrusting oneself" (1650s). The original sense was the opposite of confidence.
权威例句
1. What women mistake as thoughtlessness is often just diffidence.
女性误以为是考虑不周的事情往往只是缺乏自信。
2. He entered the room with a certain diffidence.
他怯生生地走进房间。
3. He failed through diffidence.
他因缺乏自信而失败.
4. Mr. Cruncher, with some diffidence, explained himself as meaning'Old Nick's.'
克朗彻先生觉得有点扫兴, 解释说他指的是 “ 老撒旦 ”.
5. As a result Heath rarely exhibited Nixon's crippling diffidence.