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self- gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc. Lofty trees yclad with summer's pride. Spenser. I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. Zech. ix. 6. A bold peasantry, their country's pride. Goldsmith.…

Privacy; secrecy; confidence. Chaucer. I will unto you, in privity, discover . . . my purpose. Spenser.

omise one's self. (a) To resolve; to determine; to vow. (b) To be assured; to have strong confidence. I dare promise myself you will attest the truth of all I have advanced. Rambler.

To make declaration; to utter on opinion; to speak with confidence. [R.] Dr. H. More.

Scribes and Pharisees] compass sea and land to make one proselyte. Matt. xxiii. 15. Fresh confidence the speculatist takes From every harebrained proselyte he makes. Cowper.

l, or on trial, to bring to a test; to try. -- To put trust in, to confide in; to repose confidence in. -- To put up. (a) To pass unavenged; to overlook; not to punish or resent; to put up with; as, to put up indignities. [Obs.] "Such national injuries are not to be put up." Addison. (b) To send forth or upward; as,…

To assure anew; to restore confidence to; to free from fear or terror. They rose with fear, . . . Till dauntless Pallas reassured the rest. Dryden.

being so far a recess and degradation from rationality. South. My recess hath given them confidence that I may be conquered. Eikon Basilike.

To commend to the favorable notice of another; to commit to another's care, confidence, or acceptance, with favoring representations; to put in a favorable light before any one; to bestow commendation on; as, he recommended resting the mind and exercising the body. Mæcenas recommended Virgil and Horace to Augustus, who…

The act of relying, or the condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust; repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority. In reliance on promises which proved to be of very little value. Macaulay.

To rest with confidence, as when fully satisfied of the veracity, integrity, or ability of persons, or of the certainty of facts or of evidence; to have confidence; to trust; to depend; -- with on, formerly also with in. Go in thy native innocence; rely On what thou hast of virtue. Milton. On some fond breast the parti…

To place, have, or rest; to set; to intrust. The king reposeth all his confidence in thee. Shak.

To lean in confidence; to trust; to rely; to repose without anxiety; as, to rest on a man's promise. On him I rested, after long debate, And not without considering, fixed Dryden.

To blunt; to turn, as an edge; figuratively, to cause to be obtuse or dull; as, to retund confidence. Ray. Cudworth.

t friendship or affection. Rivet and nail me where I stand, ye powers! Congreve. Thus his confidence was riveted and confirmed. Sir W. Scott.

cause danger or harm; safeness; hence, the quality of making safe or secure, or of giving confidence, justifying trust, insuring against harm or loss, etc. Would there were any safety in thy sex, That I might put a thousand sorrows off. Beau. & Fl.

t; especially, relieving the mind from doubt or uncertainty, and enabling it to rest with confidence; sufficient; as, a satisfactory account or explanation.

Faithful to a secret; not inclined to divulge or betray confidence; secretive. [R.] Secret Romans, that have spoke the word, And will not palter. Shak.

reason to entertain, doubt; certain; sure; -- commonly with of; as, secure of a welcome. Confidence then bore thee on, secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.

Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of power of safety; hence, assurance; certainty. His trembling hand had lost the ease, Which marks security to please. Sir W. Scott.