con·fi·dence   (kŏn'fĭ-dəns)    n.   Trust or faith in a person or thing. A trusting relationship: I took them into my confidence. That which is confided; a secret: A friend does not betray confidences. A feeling of assurance that a confidant will keep a secret: I am telling you this in strict confidence. A feeling of assurance, especially of self-assurance. The state or quality of being certain: I have every confidence in your ability to succeed. adj.  Of, relating to, or involving a swindle or fraud: a confidence scheme; a confidence trickster. Synonyms: These nouns denote a feeling of emotional security resulting from faith in oneself. Confidence is a firm belief in one's powers, abilities, or capacities: "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face" (Eleanor Roosevelt). Assurance even more strongly stresses certainty and can suggest arrogance: How can you explain an abstruse theory with such assurance? Aplomb implies calm poise: "It is native personality, and that alone, that endows a man to stand before presidents or generals . . . with aplomb" (Walt Whitman). Self-confidence stresses trust in one's own self-sufficiency: "The most vital quality a soldier can possess is self-confidence" (George S. Patton). Self-possession implies composure arising from control over one's own reactions: "In life courtesy and self-possession . . . are the sensible impressions of the free mind, for both arise . . . from never being swept away, whatever the emotion, into confusion or dullness" (William Butler Yeats). See Also Synonyms at trust.

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.

Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. --South.

A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. --Macaulay.

2. That in which faith is put or reliance had.

The Lord shall be thy confidence. --Prov. iii. 26.

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.

Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. --Shak.

But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. --Milton.

4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them.

Sir, I desire some confidence with you. --Shak.

Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler.

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.

I am confident that very much be done. --Boyle.

2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.

Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. --Shak.

3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.

As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. --Shak.

4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.

The fool rageth and is confident. --Prov. xiv. 16.

5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.]

The cause was more confident than the event was prosperious. --Jer. Taylor.

confidence 

confidence

In addition to the idiom beginning with confidence, also see in confidence; take into one's confidence.