Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “confidence” come from?

Confidence comes from Latin confidentia, derived from confido meaning to trust, compounded from con- and the root bʰidʰ- meaning to trust or persuade.

confidence (English): Self-assurance; A feeling of certainty; firm...

Definitions

  1. Self-assurance; A feeling of certainty; firm...

Ancestry of “confidence”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinconfidentiaassurance, confidence; boldness, impudence,...
2LatinconfidoI am confident or assured of, confide in,...
3Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “confidence”

  • overconfidence
  • underconfidence
  • nonconfidence
  • inconfidence
  • unconfidence
  • superconfidence
  • self-confidence
  • e-confidence
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →