That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me
down even to a diffidence of God's mercy. --Donne.
2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of
self-reliance; modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness.
It is good to speak on such questions with
diffidence. --Macaulay.
An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness
of address. --W. Irving.
Syn: Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear;
timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See {Humility}, and
{Bashfulness}.