Diffident

The old, merry Whiting looked sideways at Richard, then the round face assumed an expression of diffident humility for Mr. Hanks. ❋ Colleen McCullough (2000)

But, although Mary was a blushing and sensitive person, she was not what is commonly called a diffident girl; -- her nerves had that healthy, steady poise which gave her presence of mind in the most unwonted circumstances. ❋ Various (N/A)

The word diffident has appeared in 72 New York Times articles in the past year, including on Sept. 2 in How to Choose and ❋ By THE LEARNING NETWORK (2011)

But this was before I had reached what I will call the diffident period in the life of a writer. ❋ Theodore Watts-Dunton (1873)

Mr. V.V. stood by a spindly table, carefully examining a small but costly vase, the property of Mr. Heth, of the Cheroot Works; and now he went on with a kind of diffident resolution, the air of one who gives a confidence with difficulty, but must do so now, for his honor. ❋ Henry Sydnor Harrison (1905)

We are told, and can well believe it, that he was "diffident" of Sir Walter's designs. ❋ Edmund Gosse (1888)

"Do you know," Thorpe began again, with a kind of diffident hesitation -- "do you happen to have formed an idea -- supposing that had been the case -- would she have accepted him?" ❋ Harold Frederic (1877)

Here is video of Karl Rove talking with British TV Sky News, where he said that President Barack Obama is "diffident" when it comes to the details of the massive legislation he is pushing through Congress. ❋ Unknown (2009)

He's the kind of diffident youth who would have to be VERY sure before he ventured an opinion at all. " ❋ Agatha Christie (1933)

Mark says that they are often “diffident” about speaking it, strongly preferring their native tongue. ❋ Robert D. Putnam (2010)

If there is something quintessentially English and diffident about Suttie's take on relationships, outspoken US comic Margaret Cho stands at the other end of the spectrum, sharing insights from her own sex life on stage that make the Sex and the City girls look coy. ❋ Unknown (2011)

Jughead is even more reserved and diffident, if possible, to show his homesickness, before accepting the possibility of a girlfriend. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Extrovert Milan and diffident Turin could hardly be more different. ❋ Unknown (2011)

And of course he liked Donnacha and loved quizzing him about the smallest details of his life, almost blushing with pleasure the more diffident and remote Donnacha grew. ❋ Colm Tóibín (2011)

But the orbs of sadness lurched backward into her face, like the diffident eyestalks of a snail., A tentative but genuine smile crept across her face, eating her countenance in a deliberate, almost ruminant manner, as if it didn't know what to do when set free. ❋ Jack Ales-Oruam (2011)

Her name was Lashka, and she was diffident at first with the strange white man that had come out of the Unknown, married her with scarcely a look or word, and now was carrying her back with him into the Unknown. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Hazel's endless apologies and Elizabeth's diffident acceptance of them couldn't bridge the gulf between two women who were essentially participants in an accident of history. ❋ Edward Kosner (2011)

But in its diffident way, Juliet, Naked is as candid as the unplugged music on 'Naked.' ❋ Unknown (2010)