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Suspicion vs Diffidence - What's the difference?

suspicion | diffidence | Synonyms |

Suspicion is a synonym of diffidence.


As nouns the difference between suspicion and diffidence

is that suspicion is the act of suspecting something or someone, especially of something wrong while diffidence is the state of being diffident, timid or shy; reticence or self-effacement.

As a verb suspicion

is (nonstandard|dialect) to suspect; to have suspicions.

suspicion

English

Alternative forms

* suspition (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of suspecting something or someone, especially of something wrong.
  • The condition of being suspected.
  • Uncertainty, doubt.
  • *
    • In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.Strangers might enter the room, but they were made to feel that they were there on sufferance: they were received with distance and suspicion .
  • A trace, or slight indication.
  • * (Adolphus William Ward) (1837-1924)
    • The features are mild but expressive, with just a suspicion of saturnine or sarcastic humor.
  • The imagining of something without evidence.

    • Derived terms

    * suspicious * suspect * sneaking suspicion

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (nonstandard, dialect) To suspect; to have suspicions.
  • * (Rudyard Kipling)
    • Mulvaney continued— "Whin I was full awake the palanquin was set down in a street, I suspicioned , for I cud hear people passin' an' talkin'. But I knew well I was far from home.
  • * 2012 , B. M. Bower, Cow-Country (page 195)
    • "I've been suspicioning here was where they got their information right along," the sheriff commented, and slipped the handcuffs on the landlord.

    References

    * (EtymOnLine)

    diffidence

    English

    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.