From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Confidence \Con"fi*dence\, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in,
self-confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in;
trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now
commonly by in.
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Society is built upon trust, and trust upon
confidence of one another's integrity. --South.
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A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God.
--Macaulay.
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2. That in which faith is put or reliance had.
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The Lord shall be thy confidence. --Prov. iii.
26.
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3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on
himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of
self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of
security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed.
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Your wisdom is consumed in confidence;
Do not go forth to-day. --Shak.
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But confidence then bore thee on secure
Either to meet no danger, or to find
Matter of glorious trial. --Milton.
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4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were
confidences between them.
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Sir, I desire some confidence with you. --Shak.
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{Confidence game}, any swindling operation in which advantage
is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the
swindler; several swindlers often work together to create
the illusion of truth; -- also called {con game}.
{Confidence man}, a swindler.
{To take into one's confidence}, to admit to a knowledge of
one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.
Syn: Trust; assurance; expectation; hope.
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I am confident that very much be done. --Boyle.
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2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.
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Be confident to speak, Northumberland;
We three are but thyself. --Shak.
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3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.
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As confident as is the falcon's flight
Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. --Shak.
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4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault;
dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.
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The fool rageth and is confident. --Prov. xiv.
16.
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5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.]
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The cause was more confident than the event was
prosperous. --Jer. Taylor.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
confidence man
n 1: a swindler who exploits the confidence of his victim [syn:
{confidence man}, {con man}, {con artist}]
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