All 6 Uses of
diffident
in
Pride and Prejudice
- Having resolved to do it without loss of time, as his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday, and having no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at the moment, he set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the observances, which he supposed a regular part of the business.†
p. 102.1diffidence = hesitancy and unassertiveness due to a lack of self-confidence
- Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.†
p. 118.2 *
- He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday.†
p. 119.8diffident = hesitant and unassertive
- Miss Darcy, though with a diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, readily obeyed.†
p. 251.5diffidence = hesitancy and unassertiveness due to a lack of self-confidence
- This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence, and the little value he put on his own good qualities.†
p. 330.8
- His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy.†
p. 351.3
Definition:
hesitant and unassertive -- often due to a lack of self-confidence