entry
confidence
/ˈkɑːnfɪdəns/Firm belief in oneself, another, or a proposition
From Latin con- (with) + Latin fīdō (to trust or believe).
from Old French confidence or directly
from Middle English confidence
Word Ancestry
from Old French confidence or directly
from Middle English confidence
Picture a medieval speaker saying that someone was worthy of trust: confidence began as an assurance placed in another person, not merely a feeling in your own chest. Its Latin ancestor cōnfīdentia grew from con- and fīdō, so the original image was almost “trust made especially firm.” The same trust-root, traced by etymological sources to PIE *bheidh-, appears in faith and fidelity—and even in fiancé, historically someone to whom one has pledged faith. Around 1400, English inherited confidence through Middle English, probably by way of Old French, although a direct Latin route is also possible. By the 1590s it could mean a secret, because telling someone confidential information was itself an act of trust; confidence is therefore both the feeling that opens your mouth and the secret that comes out of it.
The Story
Picture a medieval speaker saying that someone was worthy of trust: confidence began as an assurance placed in another person, not merely a feeling in your own chest. Its Latin ancestor cōnfīdentia grew from con- and fīdō, so the original image was almost “trust made especially firm.” The same trust-root, traced by etymological sources to PIE *bheidh-, appears in faith and fidelity—and even in fiancé, historically someone to whom one has pledged faith. Around 1400, English inherited confidence through Middle English, probably by way of Old French, although a direct Latin route is also possible. By the 1590s it could mean a secret, because telling someone confidential information was itself an act of trust; confidence is therefore both the feeling that opens your mouth and the secret that comes out of it.
Modern Usage
Fearless self-assurance, especially in moving through social situations without worrying about others’ opinions
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary entry describing confidence as walking through a crowded hallway without caring what people think
Kin & Kindred
From 'con-'·with, together; sometimes intensively
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'fīdō'·to trust or believe
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From '-entia'·state or quality; abstract-noun suffix
Derived Terms
English words from this root