a. [f. L. confīdentia CONFIDENCE + -AL. Cf. F. confidentiel.]
† 1. Confident, bold. Obs. rare.
1651. Mr. Love’s Case, 38. With such confidential raptures and gloryings as these.
1680. [see CONFIDENTIALLY].
2. Of the nature of confidence; spoken or written in confidence; characterized by the communication of secrets or private matters.
Confidential communication: a communication made between parties who stand in a confidential relation to each other, and therefore privileged in law. Confidential relation: the relation existing between a lawyer and his client, between guardian and ward.
[1755–73. not in J.]
1748. Chesterf., Lett. to Son, clxiv. (1792), II. 98–9. You are now of an age, that I am desirous to begin a confidential correspondence with you.
1797. Burke, Regic. Peace, iii. Wks. VIII. 279. Not being admitted to the closest and most confidential connexions with the metropolis of that fraternity. Ibid., VIII. 333. We made two confidential communications to [them].
1883. Manch. Guard., 12 Oct., 5/6. The report … was to be made … without any confidential mention of the names of persons.
3. Betokening private intimacy, or the confiding of private secrets.
1759. Pitt, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., II. 474. IV. 408. The growing harmony and confidential friendship which daily manifest themselves between their Majesties.
1795. Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 308. Talking the confidential language of friendship in the public theatre.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, VI. vii. With low and confidential tone.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 29. Nino became very confidential.
4. Enjoying the confidence of another person; entrusted with secrets; charged with secret service.
1805. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. 79. The very great good derived to His Majesty’s service from Captains being allowed confidential Officers as their First Lieutenants.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 133. Confidential persons were despatched into Italy to obtain an interview … with the pope.
