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Diffident vs Lowly - What's the difference?

diffident | lowly | Synonyms |

Diffident is a synonym of lowly.


As adjectives the difference between diffident and lowly

is that diffident is (archaic): lacking confidence in others; distrustful while lowly is not high; not elevated in place; low.

As an adverb lowly is

in a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.

diffident

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (archaic): Lacking confidence in others; distrustful.
  • Lacking confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers; not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest reserve.
  • *
    • Having therefore—but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter VIII , passage=At an early point in these exchanges I had started to sidle to the door, and I now sidled through it, rather like a diffident crab on some sandy beach trying to avoid the attentions of a child with a spade.}}

    lowly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Not high; not elevated in place; low.
  • * Dryden
    • lowly lands
  • Low in rank or social importance.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • One common right the great and lowly claims.
  • Not lofty or sublime; humble.
  • * Dryden
    • these rural poems, and their lowly strain
  • Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
  • * Bible, Matthew xi. 29
    • Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a low manner; humbly; meekly; modestly.
  • *, Bk.XXI, Ch.x:
  • *:And there was none of these other knyghtes but they redde in bookes and holpe for to synge Masse, and range bellys, and dyd lowly al maner of servyce.
  • In a low condition; meanly.