diffidence
lack of self-confidence
Roots
- dis- / dif-: apart, away, not, reversal, or disruption
- fid: trust or faith
Other words with the fid root
- confidence: trust in oneself or something
- diffident: lacking confidence
- faith: trust or belief kept
- fidelity: faithfulness or loyalty
- perfidious: treacherous or deliberately faithless
- perfidy: treachery or breach of faith
Diffidence is trust pulled away from the self.
His diffidence vanished once he could explain the answer aloud.