rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: fidere
Latin

fidere

trust or have confidence

Forms

  • fidere
  • fid- — Used before other endings.
  • fis- — A changed form in related Latin formations.

Origin

An inherited Latin trust word with older Indo-European ancestry.

Note

Trust can concern another person, a promise, or one's own capacity.

3 / 5
A poised young woman confidently addresses a small audience, standing upright with relaxed shoulders, direct eye contact, a slight assured smile, and an open explanatory gesture rather than hiding behind her notes.
noun

confidence

KAHN-fih-duns/ˈkɑːnfɪdəns/

Trust in the reliability of someone or something.

Etymology
conLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly
+fidLatintrust or have confidence
+enceLatina state or quality

The trust root, with con- perhaps adding emphasis, first referred to assurance in another person’s good faith. That reliance turned inward to mean trust in one’s own powers, resources, or prospects.

Full entry

Related word entries