Meaning
to distrust; to warn
- To distrust or be wary of someone or something (usually with di).
- To formally warn or serve notice to someone to desist from an action.
In a sentence
Diffido sempre di chi fa troppe promesse.
I always distrust those who make too many promises.
L'avvocato ha diffidato la ditta dal continuare i lavori.
The lawyer formally warned the company to stop the work.
Non dovresti diffidare dei tuoi amici più cari.
You shouldn't distrust your closest friends.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| diffidare | infinitive |
| diffido | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| diffidi | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| diffida | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| diffidiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| diffidate | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| diffidano | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| diffidavo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| diffidavi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| diffidava | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| diffidavamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| diffidavate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| diffidavano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| diffidai | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| diffidasti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| diffidò | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| diffidammo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| diffidaste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| diffidarono | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| diffiderò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| diffiderai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| diffiderà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| diffideremo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| diffiderete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| diffideranno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| diffidi | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| diffidi | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
| diffidi | subjunctive · present · singular · 3rd person |
| diffidiamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| diffidiate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| diffidino | subjunctive · present · plural · 3rd person |
| diffidassi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| diffidassi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| diffidasse | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| diffidassimo | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| diffidaste | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| diffidassero | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| diffiderei | conditional · present · singular · 1st person |
| diffideresti | conditional · present · singular · 2nd person |
| diffiderebbe | conditional · present · singular · 3rd person |
| diffideremmo | conditional · present · plural · 1st person |
| diffidereste | conditional · present · plural · 2nd person |
| diffiderebbero | conditional · present · plural · 3rd person |
| diffida | imperative · singular · 2nd person |
| diffidiamo | imperative · plural · 1st person |
| diffidate | imperative · plural · 2nd person |
| diffidando | gerund |
| diffidato | past · participle |
Usage notes
- Takes the preposition di when meaning 'to distrust': diffidare delle apparenze.
- Takes a direct object in formal/legal contexts meaning 'to formally warn someone'.