confidant
pronunciation
How to pronounce confidant in British English:
UK [ˈkɒnfɪdænt , ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt]
How to pronounce confidant in American English:
US [ˈkɑːnfɪdænt]
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- Noun:
- someone to whom private matters are confided
Word Origin
- confidant (n.)
- 1610s, confident, "(male) person trusted with private affairs," from French confident (16c.), from Italian confidente "a trusty friend," literally "confident, trusty," from Latin confidentem (nominative confidens), present participle of confidere "to trust, confide" (see confidence). The spelling with -a- came to predominate 18c. and might reflect the French pronunciation.
Example
- 1. Keep options 2 and 3 open and decline to be anyone 's confidant .
- 2. But other republicans were more critical including john weaver , a long-time confidant of mccain .
- 3. If one 's spouse is not a confidant , marriage may not decrease loneliness .
- 4. Mr brown will promote several of his most loyal allies to key positions , including ed balls , his closest confidant .
- 5. The rich , confidant of popular legitimacy , can then use the independence that accompanies wealth to limit arbitrary government and protect democracy .