Confidence
Origins
late Middle English: from Latin confidentia, from confidere ‘have full trust’
Definitions
- 1. The mental attitude of trusting in or relying on a person or thing; firm trust, reliance, faith. Const. in (to, on, upon).
- 2. a. The feeling sure or certain of a fact or issue; assurance, certitude; assured expectation.
- b. Const. to do. Obs.
- c. in, on, upon confidence (of, that, to do).
- 3. a. Assurance, boldness, fearlessness, arising from reliance (on oneself, on circumstances, on divine support, etc.).
- b. Const. to have c. to do (anything).
- 4. a. In a bad sense: Assurance based on insufficient or improper grounds; excess of assurance, overboldness, hardihood, presumption, impudence.
- b. As an appellation: = Confident one.
- 5. An object or ground of trust; ‘that which gives confidence, boldness, or security’ (J.).
- 6. The confiding of private or secret matters to another; the relation of intimacy or trust between persons so confiding; confidential intimacy.
- 7. A confidential communication.
- 8. Trustworthiness, as a personal quality. a person of confidence: one entrusted with matters of importance or secrecy, a confidential agent.
Description
Confidence is generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. Self-confidence is having confidence in oneself. Arrogance or hubris in this comparison, is having unmerited confidence—believing something or someone is capable or correct when they are not. Overconfidence or presumptuousness is excessive belief in someone (or something) succeeding, without any regard for failure. Scientifically, a situation can only be judged after the aim has been achieved or not. Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability.
