confīdentĭa, ae, f. [confidens].
I A firm trust in a thing, confidence (thus very rare): scapularum. Plaut. As. 3, 2, 3.—With acc. and inf.: confidentia'st inimicos meos me posse perdere, Plaut. Ps. 2, 4, 73.— Absol. : occidit spes nostra: nusquam stabulum'st confidentiae, Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 3. —
II As a quality or habit, self-confidence, boldness; in a good and bad sense (class.).
A In a good sense (cf. fiducia): confidentia omnis orationis, Naev. ap. Non. p. 262, 24; cf.: duas sibi res, quominus in vulgus et in foro diceret, confidentiam et vocem, defuisse, Cic. Rep. 3, 30, 42; cf. Non. ib.; Plaut. Am. 5, 1, 2; id. Capt. 4, 2, 25; 4, 2, 32; Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 9.—More freq.,
B In a bad sense (cf. Cic. Tusc. 3, 7, 14, s. v. confido, P. a., B.), audacity, impudence : atrocem coërce confidentiam, Pac. ap. Non. p. 262, 10; Att. ib. 16: at confidentiā militia militatur multo magis quam pondere, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 49; Ter. And. 876; id. Eun. 839; Cic. Fl. 4, 10; id. Phil. 2, 40, 104; Quint. 11, 3, 160 (opp. fiducia); id. 12, 5, 2; and metus, * Suet. Calig. 51.