Diffident vs Reserved - What's the difference?
diffident | reserved | Related terms |
(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.
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* {{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.}}
(reserve)
(comparable) Slow to reveal emotion or opinions.
(not comparable) Set aside for the use of a particular person or party.
Diffident is a related term of reserved.
As adjectives the difference between diffident and reserved
is that diffident is (archaic): lacking confidence in others; distrustful while reserved is (comparable) slow to reveal emotion or opinions.As a verb reserved is
(reserve).diffident
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Having therefore—but hold, as we are diffident of our own abilities, let us here invite a superior power to our assistance.
reserved
English
Verb
(head)Adjective
(en adjective)- He was a quiet, reserved person.
- I'm sorry, sir, but these are reserved seats.