Middle English Dictionary Entry
confidence n.
Entry Info
| Forms | confidence n. |
| Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Firm belief, trust, reliance; an act of faith; haven, putten ~ in, to trust in (sth., sb.); yeven ~ to, to trust or rely upon (sb.); (b) self-confidence, courage; (c) a source of trust, trustworthiness.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Phil.3.4 : Al þof I hafe confydence in þe flesch.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)57/10 : The preste, hauyng confidens in hys promysse, was wel content.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)360 : With Noe ye haue expert prudence..With Isaak prevyd conffydence.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)73.314 (v.2:p.54) : With a grete confidence, the yung man kest the cloth into the fyre.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2183 : Put not confidence in the greetnesse Of thyn prerogatyf.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.1221 : These clerkes shul than despise her bookis alle In whiche thei haue a ful grete confidens.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)75/104 : Confidens in goddys strenght.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.477 : Neiþer to myne enmys ȝiffe conffidence.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Expos.PNoster (LdMisc 683)113 : In this woord 'Pater' stant al our confydence, Our hool beleue, whan we seyn 'Qui es'.
- a1500(c1445) Lydg.Mir.Edmund (Ashm 46)457 : With hertly conffidence.
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)409 : The secund temptacion is disperacion, þe which is a-yenst hope & confidence.
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)p.269 : Whan..thystuls ber berys..Than put hem [women] in trust and confydens.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)3/29 : A pure conscience ȝyueþ a gret confidence to god.
b
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)296 : Preve it wel that he be stronge & swift..With confidence in conflict.
c
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)198 : Love..groundid vpon the Affeccyoun Rootyd on Royal confidence.
- a1500 Goe lytyll byll (Dc 326)10 : She is the rose off conffydence, Most conffortyng to my nature.