Noun

(-)

Humility; the property of being humble.

*

, title=The Mirror and the Lamp , chapter=2 citation , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.}}

Noun

(-)

The state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.

* 1857 , Brigham Young, Journal of Discources'', ''

I have the same diffidence in my feelings that most public speakers have, and am apt to think that others can speak better and more edifying than I can.

* 1897 , '' (an excerpt from ''Sotileza )

"I was passing by," he began to stammer, trembling with his diffidence , "I—happened to be passing along this way, and so—er—as I was passing this way, I says to myself, says I, 'I'll just stop into the shop a minute.'

(obsolete) Mistrust, distrust, lack of confidence in someone or something.

* 1591 , William Shakespeare, , act 3 scene 3

[Charles, King of France]: We have been guided by thee hitherto,

And of thy cunning had no diffidence :

One sudden foil shall never breed distrust.