diffidence

Such diffidence is typical, say those who know him well.

Sean asked, with what was for him a certain diffidence.

She found it impossible to look her own diffidence in the face.

Also I suspected his show of diffidence was just that- an act.

And then, with the diffidence of a child, he reached under the counter.

She was full now of that diffidence which every woman has who loves.

Now he showed, just for a moment, a trace of his old diffidence.

His last words came out slowly, full of diffidence and embarrassment.

So have no diffidence in asking you to believe me."

"I have thought of one thing," Basil said with some diffidence.

When one approaches him, he seems to back up an inch or two in diffidence.

The first diffidence gave place to a very evident determination.

As for evidence of the diffidence: "I think it actually is all around us.

I noticed that he never put on an air of diffidence when, as here, his own work was being cited.

Their natural diffidence and caution fall from them like a glove.

In Britain the process was subject to much more diffidence and restraint.

It is more difficult to understand why that diffidence persists in such a modern woman.

I shrugged; diffidence is a good defense against men of his temperament.

There was some diffidence in Leila's expression, but not a great deal.

But the woman who confronted him now had no aspect of fear or diffidence about her.

"We are your slaves," he pointed out with some diffidence.

I speak with great diffidence and humility as a member of another faith.

The youth sat down as directed, but reluctantly and with diffidence.

Not so much from diffidence but because he was conscious of his youth compared with the other two.

Perhaps it is diffidence, a feeling that they may not go beyond certain modest limits.