confided

Confided is the past tense and past participle of the English verb confide. The core meaning is to entrust someone with information, typically something private or secret, with the expectation of discretion. Confide can be used transitively as confide something to someone (I confided a secret to her) or intransitively with in (I confided in her about my concerns). The form confided is used for actions completed in the past or as a past participle in perfect tenses (She had confided her fears before the meeting).

In usage, confide in someone emphasizes reliance on the listener’s trustworthiness and discretion. Confide a secret to someone emphasizes the act of sharing confidential information. The verb is relatively formal and common in both everyday conversation and formal writing. It often implies vulnerability on the part of the speaker.

Etymology: confide derives from Old French confidier, from Latin fidere “to trust,” with the prefix con- meaning together. The related noun confidant (or confidante) names the person to whom one confides. Related terms include confidence and confidentiality, while confiding describes the ongoing act of sharing, and confidential indicates the information or relationship is intended to be private.

Examples: He confided in a colleague about the mistake. She confided her doubts to me, hoping for advice. The witnesses confided nothing to the authorities until they felt safe.

See also: confidence, confidentiality, confidant/confidante, confiding, confession.