confides

Confides is the third-person singular present tense of the verb confide. To confide is to reveal a secret or private information to someone trusted, or to entrust someone with something important. In English, confide can take a direct object as in confide a secret to someone, or it can be used with the preposition in to indicate trust in a person, as in confide in someone.

Etymology and usage details: Confide derives from Latin confidere, meaning to trust fully, formed from con- (together) and fidere (to trust). The word entered English via Old French confider. Typical constructions include confide a secret to someone, confide information to someone, and confide in someone. The sense of mutual trust is central when using confide in someone, while confide with a direct object emphasizes sharing information.

Grammatical notes and nuance: Confide is a transitive verb when it takes a direct object (confide a secret to someone) and can be followed by a prepositional phrase (confide in someone) to indicate the trusted relationship. The form confides appears with third-person singular subjects (he confides, she confides). Related terms include confiding (the present participle) and confidant or confidante (a person to whom one confides). The term often appears in contexts involving privacy, personal disclosures, or confidential information.

See also: confide in, confiding, confidant/confidante, confidential.