confidentadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈkɒnfᵻd(ə)nt/, U.S.

/ˈkɑnfəd(ə)nt/

Etymology: In senses A. 1 – A. 4 apparently < Latin confīdent-em ‘firmly trusting, reliant; self-confident; bold, daring; audacious, impudent’; present participle of confīdĕre to confide v. (These senses are not found in French which for them uses confiant .) In senses A. 6 – A. 8 and B. 1 – B. 2 answering to French confident, -ente, apparently 16th cent. < Italian confidente ‘confident, trusty’, ‘a trusty friend’. This sense probably originated in the application of the word to two friends who mutually confide in or trust each other, and hence are trusted by each other; the latter or inferred part of the notion becoming at length the only one thought of, as in Littré's explanation ‘he or she to whom one confides one's secrets, one's intimate thoughts.’ The historical instances given by Littré show that the French word had in 16–17th cent. the wider sense of ‘trusty adherent, partisan’; compare sense B. 1.

A. adj.

I. Trusting; assured.

†1. Trustful, confiding. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > [adjective]

trusta1200

trusty?c1225

strustya1250

trustinga1382

traista1400

traistfula1400

trustful1560

confident1594

credent1604

unquestioned1604

fearless1634

fiduciary1640

confiding1829

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus i. i. 61 Rome be as iust and gratious vnto me, As I am confident and kinde to thee.

1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. i. 146.

1638 K. Digby in G. Digby & K. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 19 You see, my Lord, how confident I am with you, to tell you what..occurreth to me upon this subject.

1666 S. Pepys Diary 28 Dec. (1972) VII. 423 As great an act of confident friendship as this latter age..can show.

a. Having strong belief, firm trust, or sure expectation; feeling certain, fully assured, sure.

ΘΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adjective]

sickerc1100

bolda1300

surec1330

trist1340

certain1362

traista1400

tresta1400

ensurec1430

suredc1450

absolute1483

firm1483

resolute1501

assured1523

satisfied1533

unperplexed1558

unblanked1570

resolved1577

secure1578

clear1604

constant1611

ungravelled1611

confidenta1616

definitea1616

fearless1634

decretory1651

positive1658

unbrangled1671

cocksure1672

convinced1685

reliant1702

unbewildereda1807

positivistic1893

hensure1929

tooting1932

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > confident hope, trust > [adjective]

secure1592

confidenta1616

reliant1702

depending1746

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > [adjective] > accepting without question

mistrustless1586

unsuspicious1586

unmistrustful1587

unmistrusting1595

unsuspecting1595

unsuspicious1595

suspectless1605

implicit faith1610

distrustless1611

confidenta1616

suspicionlessc1650

undistrustful1654

unspeculative1660

unquestioning1697

unsuspectful1781

pin-faith1800

questionless1821

unspeculating1828

unsceptical1851

round-heeled1920

pistic1923

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 159 Art thou so confident? Within what space Hop'st thou my cure?

1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 49 I'l sit down and hope well, because you seem to be so confident [of catching the fish] .

1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 41 Again returned the scenes of youth, Of confident undoubting truth.

1884 W. E. Gladstone Speech in Comm. 28 Feb. Confident and sanguine..as our opponents were before we introduced the Redistribution Bill.

b. Const. that and clause.

1611 Bible (King James) Rom. ii. 19.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iii. 142 I do think, I saw't this morning: Confident I am. Last night 'twas on mine Arme.

1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 125 He was confident that in Scotland his dispensing power would not be questioned.

1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron I. ii. 29 Thoroughly confident that she would consent.

c. Const. of (formerly with infinitive).

1611 Bible (King James) Phil. i. 6 Being confident of this very thing.

1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 458 I was confident to dye a fearefull and vnacquainted death.

1654 H. Hammond Of Fundamentals in Misc. Theol. Wks. (1849) II. 169 He is so sure and confident of his particular election.

1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xxvi. 553 Were deaths never sudden, they, who are in health, would be too confident of life.

1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VI. 179 Reasons they had to be confident of victory.

d. Const. in. (This has affinities with 3.)

1609 Bp. J. Hall Passion-serm. 13 Mixt wine..to bereaue him both of reason and paine. I durst bee confident in this later.

1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xxvii. 3 Though warre should rise against me, in this will I be confident .

1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) iii. ii Now I glory in thine Aid, Confident in thy Defence.

1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 779 But the French commander was not now so confident in his own troops.

1871 W. H. Ainsworth Tower Hill i. i Confident in the security of his position, he derided their threats and machinations.

3. Full of assurance, self-reliant, bold; sure of oneself, one's cause, etc.; having no fear of failure.

ΘΠ

the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > [adjective]

sickera1340

confident1576

confidential1651

unhesitating1753

the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > self-confidence > [adjective]

assured1477

confident1576

self-confidenta1617

empowered1646

self-confiding1647

confidential1651

self-asserting1821

sassy1859

1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. ⁋iij b Whereuppon I waxed venturous, and like a confident fellowe amended my pase.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. Ded. sig. A2^v Confident and bolde spirited men.

1611 Bible (King James) Phil. i. 14 Many of the brethren..waxing confident, by my bonds, are much more bold to speake the word without feare.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 61 His forces strong, his Souldiers confident .

1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 190. ⁋3 His accusers were confident and loud.

1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits ix. 151 The prestige of the English name warrants a certain confident bearing, which a Frenchman..could not carry.

4. In bad sense: Over-bold, unduly self-reliant; forward, presumptuous, impudent. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

the mind > emotion > pride > excessive self-confidence > [adjective]

over-trusty?c1225

assured1477

self-wise1573

confident1600

flush1604

crested1619

sufficienta1625

self-sufficient1628

self-confiding1647

self-trustinga1660

self-secure1679

self-assured1711

cocksure1842

secure1859

self-sufficing1874

ten feet tall1962

1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 113 It is not a confident brow, nor the throng of words that come with such more then impudent sawcines from you, can thrust me from a leuel consideration.

1664 S. Pepys Diary 6 July (1971) IV. 197 Mrs. Clerkes kinswoman sings very prettily, but is very confident in it.

1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia iii. i. 48 Oh she's a Confident thing!

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. iv. xii. 85 A confident Slut.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xxxvii. 267 If he should take so confident a liberty.

5. ‘Positive; affirmative; dogmatical: as, a confident talker’ (Johnson).

ΘΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > extreme opinion, dogmatism > [adjective]

high?1535

Arctic1593

magistral1596

forward1608

confident1611

magisterial1635

pragmatic1638

high-flown1640

affirmative1650

thetical1653

positive1658

pragmatical1660

dogmatical1662

dogmatic1681

unargumentative1722

ultra1820

doctrinaire1834

cocksure1842

doctrinary1846

unevidential1853

Doctrinarian1878

pontificating1922

fundamentalist1928

hardcore1951

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [adjective] > defined, well-formed > of statement or speaker

utter1472

absolute?1504

peremptory1532

perfect1569

resolved1577

confident1611

categoricala1620

definitive1624

textuary1632

categorematical1654

categoric1678

1611 Bible (King James) 2 Cor. ix. 4 Lest..wee..should bee ashamed in this same confident boasting.

1648 Bp. J. Hall Breathings Devout Soul Medit. xvii. 25 How many have..given very confident directions for the finding out of that precious stone of the Philosophers.

1735 G. Berkeley Def. Free-thinking in Math. §48 Your confident and positive way of talking.

1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 9 They who have never studied political economy at all, are usually the most confident.

II. Trusty, trusted.

†6. Trustworthy, trusty, to be depended on. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > [adjective]

soothfastc825

truefastOE

i-treowec1000

unfakenOE

trueOE

sickerc1100

trigc1175

strustya1250

steel to the (very) backa1300

true as steela1300

certainc1325

well-provedc1325

surec1330

traistc1330

tristc1330

trustya1350

faithfula1382

veryc1385

sada1387

discreet1387

trust1389

trothfulc1390

tristya1400

proveda1425

good-heartedc1425

well-trusted?a1439

tristfulc1440

authorizablea1475

faithworthy?1526

tentik1534

fidele1539

truthfulc1550

suresby1553

responsible1558

trestc1560

reliable1569

cocksurea1575

sound1581

trustful1582

truepenny1589

true (also good, sure) as touch1590

probable1596

confident1605

trustable1606

axiopistical1611

loyala1616

reposeful1627

confiding1645

fiducial1647

laudable1664

safe1667

accountable1683

serious1693

sponsible1721

dependable1730

unfailing1798

truthya1802

trustworthy1829

all right1841

stand-up1841

falsehood-free1850

right1856

proven1872

bankable1891

secure1954

1605 Gunpowder Plot in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 24 Bring over some confident gentleman, such as you shall understand best able for this business.

1619 in S. R. Gardiner Lett. Relations Eng. & Germany (1865) 1st Ser. 206 The next day we had confident newes that they of the religion..had..seased themselves on the citty.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 170 Putting the fleet into more confident hands.

a. Confidential, to whom one confides secrets.

ΘΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > [adjective] > entrusted with secrets

derna1400

confident1608

confidential1805

1608 W. Becher in W. Camden Epistolæ (1691) 101 He was..much favoured by the Queen, having married her most confident servant.

1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 178 A Companion of mine, (a confident seruant of my Masters).

a1639 H. Wotton Earl of Essex & Duke of Buckingham: Parallel in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 176 The Duke had a care to introduce into neer place at the court divers of his confident servants.

1655 Theophania 154 Her confident nurse.

b. confident person n. in Scots Law: a confidential person, e.g. an intimate friend, a partner in trade, a confidential man of business; one who acts in collusion with a debtor, for the purpose of depriving the creditors of estate which they are legally entitled to.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > collusion, intrigue > [noun] > practitioner

insidiator1539

collusioner1562

night-crow1570

coviner1593

confident person1621

conjunct person1621

colluder1645

intriguer1667

packer1771

intriguist1830

1621 Sc. Acts Jas. VI c. 18 All alienations, dispositions, assignations, and translations whatsoever..to any coniunct or confident person, without true, just, and necessarie causes..after the contracting of lawfull debts from true creditors [the Court of Session will decreet] to haue beene..null and of none availe, force, nor effect.

†8. confident of (= French confident de): in the private confidence of, privy to. Obsolete.

ΘΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adjective] > entrusted with secrets

privya1393

derna1400

secret1470

secre?1553

private1601

conscious1609

confident of1659

fellow-knowing1662

confidant1816

1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 77 To the end that his Highness might be confident of their Proceedings, and privy to all their Passages.

B. n.

1. A trusty friend or adherent; one in whom one confides; a confidential friend.

ΘΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > friend > confidant

privya1325

secretarya1387

counsel-keeper1600

confident1619

secretara1628

trustee1641

troutc1661

confidante1709

confidant1741

1619 Sir R. Naunton in S. R. Gardiner Fortescue Papers (1871) 105 From Rome and other partes, where he is yet accepted as a confident.

1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. ii. (R) When..this sect gets firm confidents and zealous defenders.

a1662 P. Heylyn Cyprianus Anglicus (1668) i. 184 Archbishop Abbot, a great Confident of the Popular Party in the House of Commons.

1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 41 When by some Confidents..he was inform'd of some bitter expressions fall'n from her Majesty.

a1714 Bp G. Burnet Hist. Reformation (1715) iii. 191 Hobby being a Confident of the Protector's, he may be supposed to have written as he was directed by him.

1870 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) I. App. 697 Eadric, the confident and foster-brother of Eadmund.

a. spec. A person entrusted with secrets or private matters; a confidant n. and adj.

a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. i. 159 An old Ethiopian Eunuque..the most favoured of all his Confidents, and the depositary of all his secrets.

1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iv. i. 70 Nay, Mr. Tattle, If you make Love to me, you spoil my design, for I intended to make you my Confident.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison II. xxxv. 235 Make me your confident, Charlotte.

1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. ii. 29 As he had neither friend nor confident, hardly even an acquaintance.

1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 23 365 They have..made the whole world the confident of the darkest secrets of their spirits.

b. Const. of (a secret, etc.).

1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. ii. iii. 15 This Coxcomb has so little Brains too, as to make me the Confident of his Amours.

1668 R. L'Estrange tr. F. G. de Quevedo y Villegas Visions (1708) 5 I may speak to you as my Confessor, and the Confident of all the secrets of my Soul.

1715 J. Barker Exilius i. 17 My intimate Friend, and the confident of my Love.

1826 C. Butler Life Grotius App. ii. 235 Father Joseph, a capuchin friar, the Confident of all the cardinal's schemes.

†3. A kind of curl (of the hair), worn by women about 1700. Obsolete. (Perhaps rather, according to the rhyme, confiˈdant.)

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > hair > hair of head > curl > [noun]

feak1548

lovelock1592

crisple1594

curl1604

cockle1608

crisp1638

ringlet1645

cockera1653

heartbreaker1654

moustache1662

confidenta1685

cruchea1685

passagerea1685

favourite1690

wimpler1724

cannon1774

whisker1786

favori1801

curlet1803

tendril1814

sausage curl1828

spit-curl1831

crimp1855

curdle1860

number sices1861

whiskerette1880

a1685 M. Evelyn Mundus Muliebris (1690) 6 Nor Cruches she, nor Confidents, Nor Passagers, nor Bergers wants.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	confident
释义	confidentadj.n. Brit. /ˈkɒnfᵻd(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˈkɑnfəd(ə)nt/ Etymology: In senses A. 1 – A. 4 apparently < Latin confīdent-em ‘firmly trusting, reliant; self-confident; bold, daring; audacious, impudent’; present participle of confīdĕre to confide v. (These senses are not found in French which for them uses confiant .) In senses A. 6 – A. 8 and B. 1 – B. 2 answering to French confident, -ente, apparently 16th cent. < Italian confidente ‘confident, trusty’, ‘a trusty friend’. This sense probably originated in the application of the word to two friends who mutually confide in or trust each other, and hence are trusted by each other; the latter or inferred part of the notion becoming at length the only one thought of, as in Littré's explanation ‘he or she to whom one confides one's secrets, one's intimate thoughts.’ The historical instances given by Littré show that the French word had in 16–17th cent. the wider sense of ‘trusty adherent, partisan’; compare sense B. 1. A. adj. I. Trusting; assured. †1. Trustful, confiding. Obsolete. ΘΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > [adjective] trusta1200 trusty?c1225 strustya1250 trustinga1382 traista1400 traistfula1400 trustful1560 confident1594 credent1604 unquestioned1604 fearless1634 fiduciary1640 confiding1829 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus i. i. 61 Rome be as iust and gratious vnto me, As I am confident and kinde to thee. View more context for this quotation 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. i. 146. 1638 K. Digby in G. Digby & K. Digby Lett. conc. Relig. (1651) 19 You see, my Lord, how confident I am with you, to tell you what..occurreth to me upon this subject. 1666 S. Pepys Diary 28 Dec. (1972) VII. 423 As great an act of confident friendship as this latter age..can show. 2. a. Having strong belief, firm trust, or sure expectation; feeling certain, fully assured, sure. ΘΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > [adjective] sickerc1100 bolda1300 surec1330 trist1340 certain1362 traista1400 tresta1400 ensurec1430 suredc1450 absolute1483 firm1483 resolute1501 assured1523 satisfied1533 unperplexed1558 unblanked1570 resolved1577 secure1578 clear1604 constant1611 ungravelled1611 confidenta1616 definitea1616 fearless1634 decretory1651 positive1658 unbrangled1671 cocksure1672 convinced1685 reliant1702 unbewildereda1807 positivistic1893 hensure1929 tooting1932 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > confident hope, trust > [adjective] secure1592 confidenta1616 reliant1702 depending1746 the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > act of convincing, conviction > [adjective] > accepting without question mistrustless1586 unsuspicious1586 unmistrustful1587 unmistrusting1595 unsuspecting1595 unsuspicious1595 suspectless1605 implicit faith1610 distrustless1611 confidenta1616 suspicionlessc1650 undistrustful1654 unspeculative1660 unquestioning1697 unsuspectful1781 pin-faith1800 questionless1821 unspeculating1828 unsceptical1851 round-heeled1920 pistic1923 a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 159 Art thou so confident? Within what space Hop'st thou my cure? View more context for this quotation 1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 49 I'l sit down and hope well, because you seem to be so confident [of catching the fish] . View more context for this quotation 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 41 Again returned the scenes of youth, Of confident undoubting truth. 1884 W. E. Gladstone Speech in Comm. 28 Feb. Confident and sanguine..as our opponents were before we introduced the Redistribution Bill. b. Const. that and clause. Π 1611 Bible (King James) Rom. ii. 19. a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) ii. iii. 142 I do think, I saw't this morning: Confident I am. Last night 'twas on mine Arme. View more context for this quotation 1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 125 He was confident that in Scotland his dispensing power would not be questioned. 1872 E. Peacock Mabel Heron I. ii. 29 Thoroughly confident that she would consent. c. Const. of (formerly with infinitive). Π 1611 Bible (King James) Phil. i. 6 Being confident of this very thing. View more context for this quotation 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 458 I was confident to dye a fearefull and vnacquainted death. 1654 H. Hammond Of Fundamentals in Misc. Theol. Wks. (1849) II. 169 He is so sure and confident of his particular election. 1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xxvi. 553 Were deaths never sudden, they, who are in health, would be too confident of life. 1839 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece VI. 179 Reasons they had to be confident of victory. d. Const. in. (This has affinities with 3.) Π 1609 Bp. J. Hall Passion-serm. 13 Mixt wine..to bereaue him both of reason and paine. I durst bee confident in this later. 1611 Bible (King James) Psalms xxvii. 3 Though warre should rise against me, in this will I be confident . View more context for this quotation 1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) iii. ii Now I glory in thine Aid, Confident in thy Defence. 1827 R. Southey Hist. Peninsular War II. 779 But the French commander was not now so confident in his own troops. 1871 W. H. Ainsworth Tower Hill i. i Confident in the security of his position, he derided their threats and machinations. 3. Full of assurance, self-reliant, bold; sure of oneself, one's cause, etc.; having no fear of failure. ΘΠ the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > [adjective] sickera1340 confident1576 confidential1651 unhesitating1753 the mind > emotion > courage > confidence > self-confidence > [adjective] assured1477 confident1576 self-confidenta1617 empowered1646 self-confiding1647 confidential1651 self-asserting1821 sassy1859 1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. ⁋iij b Whereuppon I waxed venturous, and like a confident fellowe amended my pase. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. Ded. sig. A2^v Confident and bolde spirited men. 1611 Bible (King James) Phil. i. 14 Many of the brethren..waxing confident, by my bonds, are much more bold to speake the word without feare. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 61 His forces strong, his Souldiers confident . View more context for this quotation 1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 190. ⁋3 His accusers were confident and loud. 1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits ix. 151 The prestige of the English name warrants a certain confident bearing, which a Frenchman..could not carry. 4. In bad sense: Over-bold, unduly self-reliant; forward, presumptuous, impudent. Obsolete. ΘΠ the mind > emotion > pride > excessive self-confidence > [adjective] over-trusty?c1225 assured1477 self-wise1573 confident1600 flush1604 crested1619 sufficienta1625 self-sufficient1628 self-confiding1647 self-trustinga1660 self-secure1679 self-assured1711 cocksure1842 secure1859 self-sufficing1874 ten feet tall1962 1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 113 It is not a confident brow, nor the throng of words that come with such more then impudent sawcines from you, can thrust me from a leuel consideration. View more context for this quotation 1664 S. Pepys Diary 6 July (1971) IV. 197 Mrs. Clerkes kinswoman sings very prettily, but is very confident in it. 1688 T. Shadwell Squire of Alsatia iii. i. 48 Oh she's a Confident thing! 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. iv. xii. 85 A confident Slut. View more context for this quotation 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xxxvii. 267 If he should take so confident a liberty. 5. ‘Positive; affirmative; dogmatical: as, a confident talker’ (Johnson). ΘΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > expressed belief, opinion > extreme opinion, dogmatism > [adjective] high?1535 Arctic1593 magistral1596 forward1608 confident1611 magisterial1635 pragmatic1638 high-flown1640 affirmative1650 thetical1653 positive1658 pragmatical1660 dogmatical1662 dogmatic1681 unargumentative1722 ultra1820 doctrinaire1834 cocksure1842 doctrinary1846 unevidential1853 Doctrinarian1878 pontificating1922 fundamentalist1928 hardcore1951 the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > [adjective] > defined, well-formed > of statement or speaker utter1472 absolute?1504 peremptory1532 perfect1569 resolved1577 confident1611 categoricala1620 definitive1624 textuary1632 categorematical1654 categoric1678 1611 Bible (King James) 2 Cor. ix. 4 Lest..wee..should bee ashamed in this same confident boasting. View more context for this quotation 1648 Bp. J. Hall Breathings Devout Soul Medit. xvii. 25 How many have..given very confident directions for the finding out of that precious stone of the Philosophers. 1735 G. Berkeley Def. Free-thinking in Math. §48 Your confident and positive way of talking. 1878 W. S. Jevons Polit. Econ. 9 They who have never studied political economy at all, are usually the most confident. II. Trusty, trusted. †6. Trustworthy, trusty, to be depended on. Obsolete. ΘΠ society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > faithfulness or trustworthiness > [adjective] soothfastc825 truefastOE i-treowec1000 unfakenOE trueOE sickerc1100 trigc1175 strustya1250 steel to the (very) backa1300 true as steela1300 certainc1325 well-provedc1325 surec1330 traistc1330 tristc1330 trustya1350 faithfula1382 veryc1385 sada1387 discreet1387 trust1389 trothfulc1390 tristya1400 proveda1425 good-heartedc1425 well-trusted?a1439 tristfulc1440 authorizablea1475 faithworthy?1526 tentik1534 fidele1539 truthfulc1550 suresby1553 responsible1558 trestc1560 reliable1569 cocksurea1575 sound1581 trustful1582 truepenny1589 true (also good, sure) as touch1590 probable1596 confident1605 trustable1606 axiopistical1611 loyala1616 reposeful1627 confiding1645 fiducial1647 laudable1664 safe1667 accountable1683 serious1693 sponsible1721 dependable1730 unfailing1798 truthya1802 trustworthy1829 all right1841 stand-up1841 falsehood-free1850 right1856 proven1872 bankable1891 secure1954 1605 Gunpowder Plot in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 24 Bring over some confident gentleman, such as you shall understand best able for this business. 1619 in S. R. Gardiner Lett. Relations Eng. & Germany (1865) 1st Ser. 206 The next day we had confident newes that they of the religion..had..seased themselves on the citty. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 170 Putting the fleet into more confident hands. 7. a. Confidential, to whom one confides secrets. ΘΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > hiding, concealing from view > privacy > [adjective] > entrusted with secrets derna1400 confident1608 confidential1805 1608 W. Becher in W. Camden Epistolæ (1691) 101 He was..much favoured by the Queen, having married her most confident servant. 1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue i. 178 A Companion of mine, (a confident seruant of my Masters). a1639 H. Wotton Earl of Essex & Duke of Buckingham: Parallel in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 176 The Duke had a care to introduce into neer place at the court divers of his confident servants. 1655 Theophania 154 Her confident nurse. b. confident person n. in Scots Law: a confidential person, e.g. an intimate friend, a partner in trade, a confidential man of business; one who acts in collusion with a debtor, for the purpose of depriving the creditors of estate which they are legally entitled to. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > collusion, intrigue > [noun] > practitioner insidiator1539 collusioner1562 night-crow1570 coviner1593 confident person1621 conjunct person1621 colluder1645 intriguer1667 packer1771 intriguist1830 1621 Sc. Acts Jas. VI c. 18 All alienations, dispositions, assignations, and translations whatsoever..to any coniunct or confident person, without true, just, and necessarie causes..after the contracting of lawfull debts from true creditors [the Court of Session will decreet] to haue beene..null and of none availe, force, nor effect. †8. confident of (= French confident de): in the private confidence of, privy to. Obsolete. ΘΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > [adjective] > entrusted with secrets privya1393 derna1400 secret1470 secre?1553 private1601 conscious1609 confident of1659 fellow-knowing1662 confidant1816 1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 77 To the end that his Highness might be confident of their Proceedings, and privy to all their Passages. B. n. 1. A trusty friend or adherent; one in whom one confides; a confidential friend. ΘΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > friend > confidant privya1325 secretarya1387 counsel-keeper1600 confident1619 secretara1628 trustee1641 troutc1661 confidante1709 confidant1741 1619 Sir R. Naunton in S. R. Gardiner Fortescue Papers (1871) 105 From Rome and other partes, where he is yet accepted as a confident. 1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. ii. (R) When..this sect gets firm confidents and zealous defenders. a1662 P. Heylyn Cyprianus Anglicus (1668) i. 184 Archbishop Abbot, a great Confident of the Popular Party in the House of Commons. 1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. i. 41 When by some Confidents..he was inform'd of some bitter expressions fall'n from her Majesty. a1714 Bp G. Burnet Hist. Reformation (1715) iii. 191 Hobby being a Confident of the Protector's, he may be supposed to have written as he was directed by him. 1870 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 2) I. App. 697 Eadric, the confident and foster-brother of Eadmund. 2. a. spec. A person entrusted with secrets or private matters; a confidant n. and adj. Π a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) ii. i. 159 An old Ethiopian Eunuque..the most favoured of all his Confidents, and the depositary of all his secrets. 1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iv. i. 70 Nay, Mr. Tattle, If you make Love to me, you spoil my design, for I intended to make you my Confident. 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison II. xxxv. 235 Make me your confident, Charlotte. 1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. ii. 29 As he had neither friend nor confident, hardly even an acquaintance. 1828 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 23 365 They have..made the whole world the confident of the darkest secrets of their spirits. b. Const. of (a secret, etc.). Π 1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. ii. iii. 15 This Coxcomb has so little Brains too, as to make me the Confident of his Amours. 1668 R. L'Estrange tr. F. G. de Quevedo y Villegas Visions (1708) 5 I may speak to you as my Confessor, and the Confident of all the secrets of my Soul. 1715 J. Barker Exilius i. 17 My intimate Friend, and the confident of my Love. 1826 C. Butler Life Grotius App. ii. 235 Father Joseph, a capuchin friar, the Confident of all the cardinal's schemes. †3. A kind of curl (of the hair), worn by women about 1700. Obsolete. (Perhaps rather, according to the rhyme, confiˈdant.) ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > hair of head > curl > [noun] feak1548 lovelock1592 crisple1594 curl1604 cockle1608 crisp1638 ringlet1645 cockera1653 heartbreaker1654 moustache1662 confidenta1685 cruchea1685 passagerea1685 favourite1690 wimpler1724 cannon1774 whisker1786 favori1801 curlet1803 tendril1814 sausage curl1828 spit-curl1831 crimp1855 curdle1860 number sices1861 whiskerette1880 a1685 M. Evelyn Mundus Muliebris (1690) 6 Nor Cruches she, nor Confidents, Nor Passagers, nor Bergers wants. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.n.1576
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