A state of distrust, lack of confidence, or suspicion; the act or condition of losing faith in something.
From Latin 'diffidatio,' derived from 'diffidere' (to distrust). Combines 'dis-' (not) and 'fidere' (to trust), literally meaning not to trust. The '-tion' suffix creates a noun for the state or action.
This obsolete noun captures medieval psychology perfectly—'diffidation' described the spiritual condition of losing faith in God, a serious theological concern in religious writing.
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