Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DIFFIDENT

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connect today's word to others: If you don't have much faith or confidence in yourself, you're diffident. Break the word diffident apart and you'll see its Latin roots: dif, meaning "away," and fidere, meaning "to trust."  See if you can recall another word based on fidere: it's ___fid_____, which means "sneaky, tricky, and betraying other people's trust." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "DIFFIDENT" Diffident people and things are shy, modest, and NOT confident. Pronunciation: DIFF uh dent Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a diffident thing" or "a diffident person." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was diffident" or "He was diffident.") Other forms: diffidence, diffidently How to use it: Talk about diffident people and personalities, diffident manners and behaviors, diffident glances and looks, diffident speech and comments, a diffident style of speaking or writing, etc. examples: In Stranger Than Fiction, Harold wins over Ana with a diffident rendition of "(I'd Go) The Whole Wide World" on guitar. Although she was eager to share her science project with the judges, she couldn't lay aside her diffidence enough to speak up. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "diffident" means when you can explain it without saying "lacking boldness" or "having very little self-assurance." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "With a diffident glance toward _____, (someone) (did something, or failed to do something)." Example: "With a diffident glance toward the chair lift, he decided to stay on the bunny slopes." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing "Coiners & Coinages." Use your knowledge of science, history, literature, and vocabulary as you match newly coined words to the people who coined them, and vice versa. Let's do this! From our previous issue: Peter Wilding writes for BlogActiv.eu. Did he coin the term BREXIT, ON FLEEK, or HUNDO P? Answer: Brexit! It's from Wilding's 2012 post titled "Stumbling towards the Brexit." Try this today: Alan Freed was a famous disc jockey based in Cleveland whose career ended over a payola scandal. Did he coin the term BLUESY, HIP HOP, or ROCK AND ROLL? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of DIFFIDENT is A. CONFIDENT. B. SEPARATE. C. SIMPLE. 2. With his _____, Michael Cera embodies diffidence. A. easy warmth and humor B. long list of awards and nominations C. quiet voice and shaggy childlike hair Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C