All 4 Uses

diffident
in
Call It Sleep
(Auto-generated)

"Yea," diffidently.†
Book 1 *

diffidently = with hesitancy and unassertiveness
Mr. Sternowitz was looking from one to the other with diffident, half-frightened eyes.†
Book 2

diffident = hesitant and unassertive
Gleaming in neat braid, broad ribbon, washed face, pressed Sabbath suits, they gathered in little groups apart from their ungroomed fellows-or approached with the new diffidence of cleanliness.†
Book 3

diffidence = hesitancy and unassertiveness due to a lack of self-confidence
He smiled diffidently and went to her.†
Book 4

diffidently = with hesitancy and unassertiveness

Definitions:

(1) (diffident)
hesitant and unassertive -- often due to a lack of self-confidence
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)