Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Confidence \Con"fi*dence\, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in,
   self-confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
   1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in;
      trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now
      commonly by in.

            Society is built upon trust, and trust upon
            confidence of one another's integrity. --South.

            A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God.
                                                  --Macaulay.

   2. That in which faith is put or reliance had.

            The Lord shall be thy confidence.     --Prov. iii.
                                                  26.

   3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on
      himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of
      self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of
      security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed.

            Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go
            forth to-day.                         --Shak.

            But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to
            meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial.
                                                  --Milton.

   4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were
      confidences between them.

            Sir, I desire some confidence with you. --Shak.

   {Confidence game}, any swindling operation in which advantage
      is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the
      swindler.

   {Confidence man}, a swindler.

   {To take into one's confidence}, to admit to a knowledge of
      one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.

   Syn: Trust; assurance; expectation; hope.

              I am confident that very much be done. --Boyle.

   2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.

            Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are
            but thyself.                          --Shak.

   3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.

            As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a
            bird, do I with Mowbray fight.        --Shak.

   4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault;
      dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.

            The fool rageth and is confident.     --Prov. xiv.
                                                  16.

   5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.]

            The cause was more confident than the event was
            prosperious.                          --Jer. Taylor.

Source : WordNet®

confidence
     n 1: freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
          "his assurance in his superiority did not make him
          popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence";
          "she spoke with authority" [syn: {assurance}, {self-assurance},
           {self-confidence}, {authority}, {sureness}]
     2: a feeling of trust (in someone or something); "I have
        confidence in our team"; "confidence is always borrowed,
        never owned" [ant: {diffidence}]
     3: a state of confident hopefulness that events will be
        favorable; "public confidence in the economy"
     4: a trustful relationship; "he took me into his confidence";
        "he betrayed their trust" [syn: {trust}]
     5: a secret that is confided or entrusted to another; "everyone
        trusted him with their confidences"; "the priest could not
        reveal her confidences"